JAPANESE ASTEKOIDEA. 403 



of the area the paxillse are compressed, the tabuhim being elHptical and 

 crowned Avith two rows of eight to ten granules. 



"Abactinal plates with five or six distinct Ljbes hj which the plates 

 touch or overlap ; toAvard margin, plates often very irregularly lobed, or 

 without lobes. They are arranged in series parallel with median radial. 

 Papulae one to an area, six about each plate ; but absent from terminal half 

 of ray, where the plates are without lobes, being irregularly hexagonal or 

 oval. 



" Marginal plates broad and short, encroaching conspicuously upon 

 botli areas. Superomarginals, fifty-eight in number from intsrradial line to 

 extremity of ray, vary in width, and are wider in iuterbrachial arc than 

 elseAvhere (8.5 to 9 mm. wide in large examples). They form an even bevel, 

 more or less arched on outer part of ray and are covered with regular, close 

 hexagonal granules in five to seven transverse rows which are coarser at the 

 outer (lateral) end of the plate. The marginal granules are smaller and 

 form very regular series. Granulation has appearance of l3eiug very regular, 

 compact, and smooth. Grooves between plates invisible from exterior, and 

 probably not functioning as fascioles. Terminal plate medium-sized, olx)void, 

 covered with granules. 



" Inferomarginals correspond to superomarginals in position, though 

 there is usually one additional plate at tip of ray, and they are a trifle 

 wider. Covered with coarse hexagonal granulation, which increases rapidly 

 in coarseness toward margin of ray. In some specimens the granules are 

 -shglitl}' squamiform. In the interbrachial arc the plates bear a median 

 transverse series (^f fom' to five flattened lanceolate appressed spiuules, which 

 are gi-adually reduced in size and number along i-aj, being frequently 

 absent from the last few plates, and only one or two beyond the middle. 



" Adambulacral plates with an angular furrow margin bearing a palmate 

 series of five or six more or less compressed spinelets, the median (or adoi-al 

 admedian) the longest and most compressed ; tips rounded ; lateral spinelets 

 often with flat side uppermost. The fuiTow series is continued along adorai 

 and aboral margins of plate in tln-ee or four spaced, stout, much smaller, 

 papiUiform spinelets. On actinal smface one, two, or occasionally tln-ee. 



