134 



s. GOTO 



I sliall make a few remarks on some of the points brought 

 out in the foregoing table, basing them on a study of Japanese 

 specimens, of which I have examined a tolerably large series from 

 various localities. 



Radial ratio. — Tliis varies in general according to two factors, 

 locality and size. Taking specimens from the same locality we 

 find that the ratio R : r is greater for larger specimens than for 

 smaller ones. This has been brought out clearly by LuDwiè 

 ['97, p. C] for Astropecten aurantiacus ; and indeed it may be 

 regarded as a general rule for all species of Astropecten, if not for 

 the starfishes in general, inasmuch as a starfish which has just 

 completed its metamorphosis has a pentagonal outline. The 

 radial ratio varies also in different localities ; thus, my specimens 

 from Tomo and Miyazu have in general a greater ratio than those 

 of Misaki and other localities. At the same time a certain latitude 

 must be allowed on these points, as may be seen from the adjoined 

 table, in which the specimens are arranged in the order of r. 



