STARFISHES OF THE PHIIJPPINE SEAS. 491 



uniform, granulation to the half-dry specimen. There are usually 

 1 or 2 of these pedicellariae between any 2 inferomarginal spines. 

 All the plates, spines, and pedicellariae are covered by a rather thin, 

 soft skin, which hides the outlines of the plates. Between the infero- 

 marginal and adambulacral spines is an area of bare membrane 

 crossed by shallow creases or furrows opposite the interspaces be- 

 tween the spines. 



Adambulacral plates, small, wider than long, slightly constricted 

 or excavated along each transverse margin, and when they are 

 cleaned, a distinct notch is visible on the furrow margin. On the 

 proximal half of the ray there are 10 plates opposite 4.5 infero- 

 marginals, and beyond the middle of the ray 10 plates correspond 

 to about 5 inferomarginals. Each plate bears a single lanceolate, 

 obtusely pointed, slightly flattened spine 1.5 to 1.75 mm. long on the 

 furrow margin except the first 5 or 6 plates, which carry each a 

 second subequal spine on the outer half of the plate- Irregularly 

 scattered along the fairrow are 5 to 8 unguiculate pedicellariae, with 

 3 curved tines. (PI. 155, fig. Sh.) 



Wedged in between the interradial pair of unarmed inferomargi- 

 nals and the mouth plates are 2 or 3 small actinal intermediate plates, 

 wholly obscured by skin. 



The oral plates are narrow and form a projection toward the 

 mouth, impinging upon the furrow in such a way as to lessen its 

 diameter at its junction with the actinostome about one-half. The 

 plates bear each 3 stout, tapering, bluntly pointed spines, one on the 

 actinostomial face, and directed toward its fel-low of the opposite side 

 of the mouth of furrow, while the other 2 are more robust and are 

 on the actinal face of the plate. Two cat-claw j)edicellariae are on 

 the furrow face of the plates. 



Madreporic body small, somewhat prominent, with a few fine radi- 

 ating irregular striae and coarse intervening ridges. It is situated 

 at about the middle of r and has 7 conical spines, like those of the 

 rest of dorsum, in a half circle on its adcentral side. Tube feet in 

 2 series. 



Type.— C&t No. 37031, U.S.N.M. 



Ty2?e-locaUty.— Station 5664, Macassar Strait (lat. 4° 43' 22" S.; 

 long. 118° 53' 18" E.) , 400 fathoms, hard bottom, bottom temperature 

 43.3 F. ; 1 specimen. 



Remarks. — The known species most nearly related to the one here 

 described is Tarsaster stoichodes Sladen, taken by the Challenger at 

 station 219, off D'Entrecasteaux Reef, north of the Admiralty Islands 

 (lat. 1° 54' S.; long. 146° 39' 40" E.), in 150 fathoms, on coral mud. 

 There is some doubt as to the generic identity of the present species on 

 account of its biscrial tube feet. The specimen is small, and larger in- 

 dividuals may have the feet in 4 series, just as happens with Coronas- 



