282 BULLETIN 76, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



numerous julainbuliKTal spinelets, tiie absence of any great regularity of dorso- 

 lateral plates above the superomarginals (and also the mtervening vertical series 

 of spaced smaller plates). Specimens of this variety also vary in respect to propor- 

 tions from R = 3 r to 7 r. (PI. 70, figs. 2&, 2c.) 



Specimens occur wliich are intermediate between variety A and variety B, 

 or which are modifications of A with a slender glassy tip to the granulifomi spinelets 

 (station 4205). Such are scarcely separable from variety D. 



Variety C. — A fairly typical fomi, as regards arrangement of plates, has the 

 spinelets stout as in A, but more or less clavate and without a sign of the glassy 

 tip. Adambulacral spinelets 15 to 25, and frequently three on furrow margin 

 (station 4209). From this haul also variety B and a specimen near A. 



Variety D. — Some large specimens from ofl'shore are similar to A but hare 

 fewer spinelets to the abactinal plates and the glassy tip to the granuliform spinelets 

 is very slender, sharp, and inconspicuous, being sometimes worn off. In these 

 specimens the papular areas sometimes equal or slightly exceed the plates in size 

 and there may be some secondary smaller abactinal plates scattered among the 

 larger. This variety is only a trifle different from the typical form. The marginal 

 plates are regular and abruptly larger than the lateral plates above them (stations 

 2874, 2886). 



Variety E. — A "freak" variety from Monterey Bay (shore) has small abactinal 

 plates with short spinelets of B type, seven or eight adambulacral spinelets which 

 are heavy and spatulate near the furrow, very irregular marginals, the supero- 

 marginal series being difficult to follow at middle of ray. (No. 387, Stanford coll., 

 two specimens; station 4431, one specimen.) 



Specimens from vicinity of Monterey, Califoimia {Variety F). — In addition to 

 variety A, which occurs offshore at Pacific Grove, Point Pinos, Monterey, and 

 near Santa Cruz on rocky bottom, the variety B is even more common, and a 

 dwarf form which far outnumbers both of the above. This small variety at first 

 sight, owing to its different coloration, appears to be very distinct from leviuscuh. 

 I am unable to fuid constant differences between it and what appear to be really 

 j'oung, or immature, leviuscula from Puget Sound and Kadiak. The size of a 

 starfish is not a sure index to its age, wliich probably partly accounts for the varia- 

 bility of these specimens. The marginal plates, for instance, vary from the jiro- 

 portions of those of escJiricJitii to those of leviuscuh. 



The abactinal plates are variable in size but of the type of leviuscula, the plates 

 being usually larger than the papular areas. Spinelets vary just as in the large 

 specimens, except that the beady or glassy-tipped spinelets are not present. Some 

 specimens have the spinelets conspicuously slentlerer, approacliiug dyscrita in form. 

 The adambulacral plates are short, with five to eight spinelets in two transverse 

 rows, and a single more or less compressed furrow spinelet much larger than the 

 rest. There are three longitudinal series of regular plates external to the adambu- 

 lacrals, of wliich the two outer (marginals) are the largest. The marginal plates 

 arc more compressed, less squarish than in large leviuscula, and have two to 

 four irregular transverse rows of spinelets pointed outward. 



