STAEFISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE SEAS. 399 



and the relative size and form of the exposed surface is as in ritteri. 

 The inferomarginals are nearly elliptical and narrower than the 

 superomarginals "which are oval, the broad end actinad. Terminal 

 plate large, almost identical with that of Titteri. 



The outer row of actinal intermediate plates has the exposed sur- 

 face, which is elliptical or roundish, conspicuously larger than that 

 of the inner row, at least for half the length of ray. The outer series 

 extends about two-thirds the length of ray, and 2 or 3 irregular 

 series of granules separate them from the inferomarginals, and 1 

 or 2 from the inner series, while transversely, the plates of each 

 series are separated by 2 or 3 rows of granules. 



Each adambulacral plate has 2 furrow spines, rounded truncate, 

 about twice as long as broad, and the adoral a trifle narrower than 

 the other. The subambulacral spines are narrower than figured for 

 ritteri^ elliptical in shape, separated from the furrow spinelets 

 (which extend above the level of the granules for about half their 

 length) by usually a single series of granules, and from one another 

 by 1 or 2 series. Usually at the base of the spines in the interval 

 between them is an enlarged granule which is most prominent on 

 the middle third of the ray. These granules, which vary in size 

 from 2 to 5 times the diameter of the others usually are separated 

 from the adjacent spines by a single series of very small gi-anules. 



Papular areas in 10 longitudinal series with usually 3 papulae to 

 an area: 4 abactinal, 2-f-2 intermarginal, and l+l actinal interme- 

 diate. 



The peculiar sphaeridialike structures described as pedicellariae 

 by Doderlein in B. ritteri seem to be entirely absent. But each 

 papular area has 1 to 3 low bivalved pedicellariae, whitish in color, 

 and each valve is about 1.5 to 2 times the size of an adjacent granule. 

 The contour of the pedicellaria is that of a fairly broad ellipse with 

 the ends truncated. A few of the abactinal and marginal plates 

 have a tongs pedicellaria with two slender spatulate jaws, 1.5 to 2.5 

 times as long as their breadth at base, which fit into conspicuous de- 

 pressions of the plate when open. (See figs. 8a-&, pi. 95.) 



The madreporic body, just outside a primary basal plate has 

 branched radiating ridges and narrow deep striae. 



Color of dried specimen, burnt umber marbled on the rays with 

 Naples yellow. 



Type. — No. 2498, Museum of Comparative Zoology. 



TTjpe-locality. — Apo Reef, Mindoro Strait, Philippines. 



Specvmen examined. — The type is the only known specimen. 



Remarks. — I am greatly indebted to Dr. H. L. Clark for permis- 

 sion to describe and figure this form, which was not taken by the 

 Albatross expedition. 



Bunaster ritteri is from Amboina. 



