STAEFISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE SEAS. 109 



curved, sharp spines, of which the central 2 or 3 are the longest (at 

 middle of ray, equaling the width of plate). Spaced from these, on 

 the actinal surface of the first 10 plates, are 2 shorter, flattened, ap- 

 pressed spinules and on the succeeding 4 or 5 plates, 1 such spinule, 

 situated near the distal margin. The general surface is covered with 

 spinelets, short, truncate and granuliform on center, becoming much 

 longer and slenderer on the sides, and very delicate in the furrows. 

 Actinal interradial areas small ; intermediate plates small, arranged 

 in series parallel to furrow, and also parallel to interradius. There 

 is an odd interradial series of 5 intermediate plates, of which the 

 innermost plate belongs to the second longitudinal series, since the 

 proximalmost plates of the first longitudinal series are paired; that 

 is, a pair of plates is opposite the outer end of the mouth plate and 

 from these a single odd series proceeds interradially to the suture 

 between the first inferomarginals, as in Blakiaster^ Lefty chaster^ 

 and other genera. Opposite the second adambulacral is a series 

 parallel w^ith the interradial which does not reach the inferomar- 

 ginal. The next two extend from the third and fourth adambulacrals 

 to the first inferomarginal. The number of plates in these inter- 

 radial series decreases rapidly, so that opposite the third inferomar- 

 ginal there are 2 series of 2 plates each. Thence a single longitudinal 

 series of intermediate plates extends to two-thirds the length of ray 

 (to twenty-first inferomarginal). The plates imbricate, are convex, 

 and are covered by a paxilliform group of about 10 blunt, cylindri- 

 cal clavate, central spinelets and as many slender, tapering periph- 

 eral ones. About a dozen plates in center of interradial area have 

 each a slender, flat, sharp, appressed spinule, about as large as the 

 actinal inferomarginal spinules. 



Adambulacral plates oriented obliquely with a distinct angle pro- 

 jecting into furrow, and with an armature of the same type as that 

 of Leptychaster. Furrow spines, slender, blunt, 5 to 7, of which that 

 on the apex of margin is longest and most compressed, the rest de- 

 creasing regularly in length. Sometimes one or both lateral spines 

 are crow'ded back from the furrow, leaving 5 or 6 instead of the 

 maximum number of 7 furrow spines. Twelve or 14 shorter 

 spines stand on the surface of the plate; about 3 of them are just 

 l)ack of the furrow series, and the remainder (more crowded and 

 much shorter) are on outer part of plate. Sometimes the subambu- 

 lacral spines arrange themselves in 3 longitudinal series, with 1 spine 

 out of order back of the furroAv series. 



Mouth plates rather large and prominent actinally, and with an 

 armature unlike that of Persephonaster^ but more like that of Lepty- 

 chaster and Blakiaster. There is no angular or fasciculate group 

 of spines belonging to the marginal series between the base of the 

 tooth and peristome. Marginal series, bordering furrow, rather long. 



