JAPANESE ASTEROIDEA. 201 



spines — the uppermost, or tliat nearest the margin, being the smallest ; the 

 second is large, compressed and acuminate, twice the size of the marginal 

 spine, and is succeeded by another almost as large. The spines are arranged 

 obliquely across the plate, except in the arm-angle, where they form a 

 straight series along with two or three additional spinelets which he between 

 them and the fmTOAv. The main spines of these inmost plates of the arm- 

 angle are also somewhat smaller than their successors. The rest of the 

 ventral plate is covered with numerous small compressed and finely acumi- 

 nate scuticles, standing erect and fairly well spaced, which present quite a 

 different appearance to the flat, closely-packed, ispatulate scales wliich so 

 frequently clothe the under sra-face of Astropeden. The fmrows between the 

 plates are wide, having the margins set with fine setseform spinules, very 

 different from the armatm'e of the plate just described. The upper marginal 

 plates, which are broader than long, number about sixteen on each side, 

 exclusive of the tip. They are closely papillate ; and the spine-Hke papillae 

 are cyhndrical, with radiate tips more or less expanded and quite clavate. 

 There are about five rows of these spinelets upon a plate, exclusive of the 

 marginal setseform series, the middle ranges being larger than the rest ; whilst 

 the setseform spinelets which fringe the fmTows are much longer and more 

 dehcate, and present in a more marked degree the clavate character of the tip. 



" The paxillary area is, at the middle of the ray, a little broader than 

 the marginal plate (though not twice as broad) ; and the paxillae are large 

 and very distinctly stellate, 5-6-i"adial, with a ray springing from the centre 

 as well, though sometimes this is wanting. The madreporiform body is 

 sitimted close to the marginal plates. 



" Two very young Astropedens, measuring respectively 10.5 millims. and 

 8 milhms. in their greatest diameters, seem to belong to tliis species. The 

 relative characters of the disk and rays, the aiTangement of the foot-papillse, 

 the armatm-e of the ventro-marginal plates, and the x^a-^iUsö oî the dorsal 

 surface present only such differences as might be expected in the prematm-e 

 conditions of the Astropeden above described. The inner row of foot-papillae 

 consists of tlu'ee spinules as in the adult form ; but in the outer series there 

 are only two on the outer portion of the farrow, and three on the 



