110 BULLETIN 100, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



even, fairly straight, composed of 11 spines of which the inner is tlat- 

 tened, oblong, blunt, 2.5 mm. long and directed upward, away from 

 the mouth. The next is a little shorter and slenderer, while the suc- 

 ceeding 9 are of nearly uniform length, except the outermost 1 or 

 2 which are shorter, and are nearly as long as second tooth. They 

 are narrofc/, strap-shaped, compressed and bhint, and are like the mar- 

 ginal spines of Psilaster, only longer, being appressed against the in- 

 termediate spines. This .series is continued along the lateral sutural 

 margin by a dozen smaller spinelets. The short stubby suboral spine- 

 lets are arranged in about 3 series on each plate, only that adjacent to 

 median suture reaching the teeth. The spines on the inner end of 

 this series are rather thick and blunt, and the whole suboral arma- 

 ture has the appearance of being crowded and graduated in length 

 from the marginal series to the outer end of the plates where the 

 spinelets are like those of the adjacent intermediate plates. 



Madreporic body small, 2.5 its own diameter from marginal plates 

 and crossed by rather coarse, irregular, transverse ridges and fine 

 striae. 



Tube feet pointed, without deposits; strong superambulacral 

 plates; marginal coelomic pockets as in Persephonaster; gonads in- 

 terradial. 



Ty2)e.—C^t. No. 30519, U.S.N.M. 



Type-locality. — Station 5289, Verde Island Passage, north of Min- 

 doro (lat. 13" 41' 50" N.; long. 120° 58' 30" E.), 172 fathoms, 

 broken shells, sand; 1 specimen. 



Distribution. — Known only from off southern Luzon, 172 to 210 

 fathoms. 



Sjjecimens examined. — The type and 1 specimen from station 

 5296, China Sea, vicinity of southern Luzon, 210 fathoms, mud and 

 sand. 



Remarks. — Astromesites differs from Persephonaster^ Psilaster, 

 and Bathyhiaster in having an odd interradial series of actinal in- 

 termediate plates. It differs further from Persephonaster in lacking 

 the latter's characteristic angular marginal series (or fasciculate 

 group) of oral spines, and in having an angular series of furrow 

 spines, rather than a comb ; from Psllaster in having broader mouth 

 plates Avith numerous, crowded suboral spines in more than 1 series, 

 an angular (not pectinate) furrow armature, and in lacking the 

 thick, fleshy, actinal spinelets; from Bathyhiaster in lacking lobes 

 on the abactinal plates, fleshy actinal spinelets, and in having a 

 different type of dental and marginal armature. Astromesites agrees 

 with Blakiaster and Leptychaster in having the odd interradial 

 series of actinal intermediate plates, and the same type of adambu- 

 lacral armature. It differs from Blakiaster., however, as indicated in 



