JAPAJSTESE ASTEROEDEA. 343 



assume a more or less stellate from, owing to the indentations 

 due to the papular pores. The majority of the plates bear each 

 a valvate, transversely elongated pedicellaria, but those without 

 pedicellaria are also very numerous (PL XÏI, fig. 187, 188, 189). Each 

 plate has a marginal series of very small, closely set granules, and 

 in a plate without a pedicellaria the whole central area bears a com- 

 paratively small number of nearly spherical granules, which when 

 removed leave circular pits behind them. Even on larger plates 

 the number of these central granules does not appear to exceed 

 fifteen and they therefore leave the larger part of the central 

 area naked. In case there is a pedicellaria this may be situated 

 centrally or excentrically. In the former case it is usually sur- 

 rounded by a series of conico-eUiptical granules usually larger 

 than the marginal granules and arranged concentrically with the 

 latter ; but when the pedicellaria is in an excentric position it is 

 usually destitute of such accessories, and the central granules are 

 arranged very much in the same way as where the pedicellaria 

 is absent. In any case the pedicellaria is situated in a large 

 excavation. The papular pores are not very numerous and are 

 found singly between the plates. 



Madreporite. — The madreporite is only slightly larger than 

 the largest abactinal plates and, although wholly exposed, is not 

 very conspicuous. Its outer margin is a little less than twice as 

 far removed from the mai'gin of the disk as its inner margin is 

 from the centre. The furrows are very numerous and mostly 

 radiating and the plate is very slightly convex. 



Terminal plates. — The terminal plate is very small. 

 Locality. — Off Misaki, depth 640 m. 

 - I have a very small specimen of a starfish from the deep 



