STAEFISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE SEAS. 



195 



places pilosus in Pontaster (as restricted by Perrier), thus indicat- 

 ing that pedicellariae are absent. 



In the largest specimen there are 38 spores to the papularium 

 examined, distributed in 4 irregular longitudinal rows. The papu- 

 larium is bifurcate distally. 



A xQvy small, rudimentary tendon from the dorsal muscle joins 

 the outer end of the tenth ambulacral ossicle, which does not differ 

 in form from its neighbors. This tendon can be seen only with 

 difficulty. 



Type-locality. — Not stated (unless the name refers to Nias Island, 

 off Sumatra). 



Distribution. — Gulf of Boni, Celebes, and Molucca Islands to 

 Palawan Passage and Luzon, Philippine Islands; "Indian region" 

 (Ludwig). 



Specimens examined. — Twelve. 



Specimens of Cheiraster niasicus examined. 



station. 



5348 



5445 

 5447 

 561S 

 5619 



5624 



5626 



565S 



Locality. 



Palawan Passage, lat. 10° 57' 45" N.; long. 118° 3S' 15" 

 E. 



North coast Samar 



Lagonoy Gulf 



Molucca Passage 



do 



Between Gillolo and Makian Islands, Molucca 



Islands. 

 Between Gillolo and Kayoa Islands 



Gulf of Boni, Celebes 



Depth, 

 (fath- 

 oms) 



375 



3.<?3 

 408 

 417 

 435 



288 



265 



510 



Nature of bottom. 



Coral sand 



Green mud, sand 

 Green mud, coral 



Gray mud 



Fine gray sand, 



mud. 

 Fine gray sand. . . 



Gray mud, fine 



sand. 

 Gray mud 



No. 



Bottom 

 temper- 

 ature. 



41.2 



Remarks. — This species differs from Ch. pil'osus in having longer 

 and slenderer rays, especially distally (11=7.5 r as against 6-[- in 

 pilosus) ; and in the adult stage in having inferomarginal fasciculate 

 pedicellariae, and rather fewer abactinal spines. 



The specimens from stations 5618 and 5619, perhaps, belong to a 

 distinct variety. They have only 1 accessory inferomarginal spine, 

 and the dorsal surface of the superomarginals is narrower than in 

 any of the other examples. It is those specimens which have a 

 subcircular pectinate pedicellaria on the interradial marginal 

 sutures, as described for Ch. tindlipes (Sladen). In trullipes., how- 

 ever, there are no enlarged central paxillar spines, the paxillac are 

 much smaller, and actinal intermediate plates are absent (due to im- 

 maturity, very probably). The specimens from stations 5618 and 

 5619 have also actinal intermediate and inferomarginal pedicellariae, 

 8 or 9 furrow spines, 8 oral spines, and the abactinal spines not very 

 thickly scattered all over the abactinal surface. The papularium 

 contains 14 or 15 pores, and is a trifle swollen, but it is slightly two- 



