ASTEKOIDEA OF NORTH PACIFIC AND ADJACENT WATEBS FISHKB. 283 



These small Henricia are sexually mature at R = r2 mm. A pood-sizni imli- 

 vidual measures about twice that. K equals about 3 r, but the thickness of the 

 ray is variable. They brood their c'^<xs in January, forminj: for that purpose a 

 concavity about the mt>uth by arching the disk. The e>:<rs are oran;;e yellow and 

 are hidden by the mother, which in spite of its bri-rht colors, harmonizes fairly well 

 with the coralline on the rocks. However, when broodin<^ the effgs this species is 

 usually found under rocks or hidden between them, in darkness. 



So far as I know, no large leviuscula hixs been found brooding; ejij^s, a habit of 

 both //. sangmnolenta and //. eschrichtii. A knowleiljje of this would be of trreat 

 value in determininj: the status of the form under consideration. 



I have s])ecimens of this small variety from Marin County, San Francisco, and 

 Crescent City, California, and from the Straits of Fuca, and Pupet Sound. A 

 young leviuscula collected along with many large specimens of variety A at Kadiak 

 is not tlifferent in any important respects from some Monterey Bay specimens of 

 the dwarf variety, especially as regards the compressed marginals. Dr. J. C. 

 Brown found the ilwarf form at Port Renfrew, British Colund)ia, on the Straits of 

 Fuca, anil noted the difference in color, the large examples being uniform brick red 

 above (as at Monterey Bay). I am unable to fiml any differences between the 

 Monterey and Straits of Fuca specimens except the slightly larger abactinal plates 

 of the latter, these being absolutely typical of leviuscula (as in fact are those of 

 some of the Monterey specimens). 



I am rather against my will forced to range these small specimens under //. 

 leviuscula. In view of the great variability of these specimens and of the lack of 

 any tangible structural difference, it would be hazardous to separate them on the 

 strength of our ignorance of the egg-laying habits of t^'pical lei'iuscula. 



The color variations are so decided that the most important are classified 

 below. 



1. Variations of brown predominating. 



a. Ground color of abactinal surface drab gray mottled with light red, burnt 

 sienna, Van Dyke brown; mottling on disk, or disk and arms; ground color extend- 

 ing over marginals. Actinal surface below marginals yellowish. 



b. Ground color dull light brown (tan) variously mottled with brown madder 

 on rays and disk, or disk only; ground color varying to light yellowish brown, and 

 motthng of different intensity. 



c. Dull brown, arms tipped with orange (rare). 



2. Orange, j-ellow, or red predominating. 



a. Bright orange above with irregular bands of grayish at base of rays; light 

 straw yellow below. 



b. Dull vermilion above, yellowish white below. 



c. Deep dull yellow (several shades) sparsely mottled wit li dark reddish i>ruwn. 



d. Brick red, sparsely mottled with drab. 



e. Light reddish (brick) yellow mottled sparsely wiih bmwii. 



/. Light brown, dull t)range, and brown madder of several intensities, marbleil 

 together. 



