STARFISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE SEAS. 369 



Marginal plates forming a rounded border to each surface, the 

 sides of ray being perpendicular. Marginal plates confined nearly 

 wholly to side wall, encroaching very little upon either surface ex- 

 cept in the interbrachial arc where the superomarginals form a nar- 

 row border. The plates of the 2 series are nearly opposite, except 

 near tip of ra}^ Superomarginals 41, the first 3 wider than long, the 

 others a little longer than wide, the adoral transverse margin some- 

 times slightly curved (convexity adorad), and the other transverse 

 margin correspondingly concave. About the last dozen plates have 

 a naked central area which increases in size distad, the last 3 or 4 

 plates having only a marginal series of granules. The plates other- 

 wise are covered with granules similar to those of dorsal sur- 

 face, which decrease in size toward the center of plate ; largest 

 granules on transverse sutures. The first 2 or 3 plates bear 1 to 3 

 small thimble-shaped tubercles, smaller than abactinal spines. The 

 inferomarginals are similar to the superomarginals, but are a little 

 narrower, the last IT or 18 having a central naked area. The inter- 

 brachial inferomarginals are not tuberculate (only 1 plate an ex- 

 ception in type). Terminal plate nearly pear-shaped, small end 

 distal, and with a small terminal cylindrical spine. 



Actinal intermediate areas rather extensive and covered with 

 granules slightly coarser than those of abactinal and marginal plates 

 (except marginal granules of latter) becoming more spaced and 

 slightly higher toward ■ the furrow and mouth angle, where the 

 plates bear each 1 or sometimes 2 terete, slightly tapering, truncate, 

 or round-tipped spinee, 2 to 2.5 mm. long. There are 45 to 55 spines 

 in each actinal interradial area and those adjacent to adambulacrals 

 extend about one-third the length of furrow ; the spines are in about 

 4 chevrons, and the outer spine on the interradial line is about two- 

 thirds r from center. One series of plates reaches to within 10 infero- 

 marginals of tip of ray; a second series about two-thirds length 

 of ray; a third series one-third; while in the interbrachium numer- 

 ous additional small plates are wedged in irregularly. In general the 

 outlines of the plates are invisible. 



Furrow narrow. Adambulacral plates longer than wide, with a 

 nearly straight furrow margin bearing proximally 4 or 5, but over 

 most of ray 4 (sometimes 3) rather long (2.5 mm.) subterete or very 

 slightly compressed, truncate spines, the adoral slightly shorter as 

 a rule than the other 3, which are subequal. On the first 7 to 12 

 plates are 2 slightly longer but much heavier, truncate, slightly taper- 

 ing and slightly compressed subambulacral spines in a longitudinal 

 series just back of the furrow series. The adoral is usually the 

 smaller after the first few plates, which may have a third much 

 shorter adoral spinule. The other plates have 1 subambulacral a little 

 larger than the proximal. A few plates irregularly near end of ray 



