STARFISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE SEAS. 297 



tipped spines, the outer part of the plate being granulate, the gran- 

 ules being larger than those of the intermediate plates, spaced, and 

 subspinose. A curious variation is present in 2 specimens from sta- 

 tions 511G and 5412. One of the teeth at the inner angle is enor- 

 mously broadened and forms an odd scoop-shovel-like tooth. In 

 another mouth angle 2 are enlarged, 1 more than the other, so that 

 they overlap greatly. 



Madreporic body small, near center of disk, surrounded by 5 

 plates; ridges radiating and coarse. 



Anatomical notes. — The specimen dissected was smaller than the 

 type, with K, lOG mm. Intestinal coeca, consisting of 5 long, slender, 

 simple, radiating sacs, about one-third the minor radius in length; 

 Hepatic coeca small, about two-fifths of R in length; stomach small, 

 divided by a constriction into distinct dorsal and ventral divisions; 

 Polian vesicles large, 1 in each interradius ; ampullae double. Inter- 

 brachial septa membranous; along the ray are numerous accessory 

 septa parallel to the interbrachial, and extending from margin nearly 

 to ambulacral plates. There are 8 of these between the second and 

 twelfth superomarginals; thence they become very small. Gonads in 

 a single tuft on either side of the interbrachial septum, at about the 

 middle of r. 



Type.— C2it. No. 28657, U.S.N.M. 



Type-locality. — Station 5273, off western Luzon, 27 miles southwest 

 of Corregidor Light, 114 fathoms, mud, shells, and coral sand; 1 

 specimen. 



Distribution. — Southwestern Luzon to Bohol, 114 to 200 fathoms, 

 on green mud, mud, shells, and coral sand, temperature range 50.2° 

 to 54.8° F. 



/Specimens examined. — In addition to the type, 4 specimens from 

 the following stations: 



Station 5116, mouth of Balayan Bay, Luzon, 200 fathoms, bottom 

 temperature 50.2° F. ; 1 specimen (large). 



Station 5412, between Cebu and Bohol, 162 fathoms, green mud, 

 54.8° F. ; 3 specimens. 



Station 5417, between Cebu and Bohol, 165 fathoms, gray mud, 

 sand, bottom temperature 54.4° F. ; 1 specimen. 



Remarks. — This genus differs from Circeaster in lacking the ab- 

 ruptly larger abactinal plates of rays, in having smooth marginals, 

 and regular tabulate radial plates ; and from Lydiaster in the character 

 of abuctinal, marginal, and adambulacral plates. Lydiaster is more 

 nearly related to Circeaster than to Pontioceramus. Ceramaster is 

 distinguished by the Avholly granulate tabulate abactinal plates and 

 Eugonianter^ which is perhaps the most nearly related form, has the 

 abactinal plates arranged without regularity although "tabulate," 

 and the adambulacral plates are of uniform width throughout. 



