JAPANESE ASTEROIDEA. 217 



the inner margin the inferomarginals are covered with conico- 

 squamiform spinelets similar to those of the superomarginals. 

 They become more slender and pointed towards the enter part, 

 and towards the proximal and distal edges of the plate they 

 gradually become snbcapillary, and finally truly capillary on the 

 faces of the transverse grooves. Some care is necessary to dis- 

 tinguish the armature of the inferomarginals from that of the 

 ventrolaterals, which is intermediate in character between it and 

 the outer spines of the adambulacral plates. 



Adamhulacral plates. — Of these there are, in the greater part 

 of the arms, seven to every six of the inferomarginals ; and except 

 the two or three at the mouth end, each plate presents a wedge- 

 shaped margin towards the ambulacral furrow (PI. II, fig. 16). The 

 first plate is broad and short, and bears two parallel series of rather 

 slender spines, each series consisting of some ten spines ; and 

 when these stand up all erect, they present a comb-like appear- 

 ance, which, however is not so conspicuous as in Astropecten ludicigi. 

 From the third plate on there is a curved furrow series of 5-7 

 spines which are tolerably long, the longest ones being very 

 nearly 3 mm. in a specimen whose r is 18 mm. (PI. II, fig. 19). 

 On the actinal face of the adambulacral plate there can usually 

 be distinguished two somewhat irregular series of spines parallel 

 to the furrow series, each of 3-5 spines, somewhat shorter and 

 more pointed than those of the former. The spines of the furrow 

 series are subequal in length. 



Mouth- plates. — These are less prominent than in P. misakiensis, 

 and are inchned at a rather sharp angle towards the mouth, the 

 highest part being near the abcentral end of the plates, where 

 they are firmly ankylosed. These points are clearly visible 



