JAPANESE ASTEEOIDEA. 155 



forms of life ; but since under such an aspect tlie organisms tliemselvs stand 

 as the outcome of adaptation and the conditions of existence, the latter 

 factor being thus synonymous with habitat or geograpliical position, taken 

 in its widest sense, it would evidently be a disadvantage to science to lose 

 the record of the influence which has been exerted, and to sacrifice so simple 

 an indication of the relative position of a modified type within the area of 

 its general occurrence." 



Tliis species is mentioned by name by Sladen ['83, p. 251] in his 

 prehminary paper on the Challenger Asteroidea as follows : 



" Astropedeii polyacantlms, Müller and Troschel. 



" Station. Poii Jackson, Australia. Depth 2-11 fms. 



" Station. Admiralty Island. Depth 16-25 fms. 



" Station. Yokohama, Japan. Depth 5-25 fms. 



" Station. Kobi, Japan. Dej)th 8-50 fms." 



Stüder mentions this species from Timor (Pariti) ['84, p. 43]. Bell 

 mentions it from the collections of the ' Alert ' ['84a, p. 133] : 



" A fine series of ten specimens were taken in 0-5 fms., at Poii 

 Jackson. In the case of two examples there are three spineless ossicles 

 succeeding the plate at the angle of the arm ; in all the other cases the 

 more ordinary condition of two such ossicles only is found to obtain. The 

 smallest specimen has R equal to 15 miUim., and the largest R equal to 

 36 millim. Some variability is to be noted in the tenuity of the arms." 



The same author also mentions it from the Seychelles and DaiTOS Island 

 [Bell, '84a, p. 510]. 



Walter describes a specimen from Ceylon as follows ['84, p. 368] : 



" Astropecten armatvs. M. et Tr. (=Iiystrix und polyacantJnis M. et Te.) 



" Ein getrocknetes Exemplar aus Ceylon ergiebt als Grössenverhältnisse : 

 Armlänge 89 mm., Scheibendurchmesser ohne die Eandplatten 27, mit densel- 

 ben 31 mm. Die Breite der Arme an der Basis : oben 18, unten 21 mm. 

 Vollkommen stimmt dies Exemjplar zu M. et Troschel's typischem Astropect. 

 armatus von Java, nicht zur var. hystrix, die schon im System der Asteriden 

 von Ceylon angefülurt wird. Die einzige Abweichung von jener Beschreib- 

 ung des Astrop. armatus besteht bei unserm Exemplar, neben grösserer 



