146 BULLETIN 76, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



A specimen from the vicinity of Departure Bay (Canadian Biological Station), 

 depth unknown, is referable to this forma, but it has abundant abactinal straight 

 pedicellariae, mostly lanceolate with compressed usually toothless jaws (of the sort 

 shown on plate 66 figure lb, figures 8, 8a). 



This has the appearance of a distinct species but I think it will prove to be but 

 a form of koehleri. A specimen of the type forma from 125 fathoms near the type 

 locality (station 3452) is in marked contrast, having few proximal dorsolateral spines 

 and most of the alternate carinal and superomarginal plates spineless. (PL 67, fig. 2 

 (3452)). 



Type.— No. E. 1239, U.S.N.M. 



Forma BIORDINATA Verrill 



Plate 67, Figure 5; Plate 69, Figures 3, 3a 

 Orthasterias biordinala Verrill 1914. 



This forma is characterized by heavy subclavate spines, often with thickened 

 tips marked by numerous fine longitudinal striae. The type which I have examined 

 has large broadly lanceolate abactinal straight pedicellariae without teeth, or they 

 may be formed as shown in VerrhTs plate 82 (fig. 26, b); or still broader subspatulale 

 ones are found in the intermarginal channel. These are much fewer than the lance- 

 olate sort. 



A fine specimen collected by Dr. John C. Brown at Port Renfrew on the Straits 

 of Juan de Fuca, low tide (pi. 09, figs. 3, 3a; pi. 67, fig. 5) has thicker rays and heavier 

 spines than the type. The spines are scored longitudinally by fine, not very regular 

 striae, and the end of a spine resembles a madreporite. The abactinal straight 

 pedicellariae are mostly of the lanceolate type, but some with broader toothed jaws 

 are present and predominate in the intermarginal channel. Curiously, the mouth 

 spines are not heavy but on the whole rather slender. 



Doctor Brown writes that this form is rather rare, but can usually be found at 

 Port Renfrew at low tide well up between tide lines, in pools, on algae and kelp. 

 It is an extremely fragile species and generally falls to pieces if carried by the arms 

 without support. They suffer if left above the tide for very long and large bubbles 

 of gas collect in various parts of the arms, forming projections. This species shows 

 a decided tendency to rapid regeneration of its lost arms, as many individuals have 

 imperfectly developed rays, shorter than the rest. The tube-feet are exceptionally 

 long in life and the eye-spots quite prominent. The movements are very slow. The 

 color of a healthy specimen is almost rose-madder with yellowish white breaks here and 

 there which make a variable pattern. 



Verrill (1914, p. 174) states that his type came from Departure Bay, British Co- 

 lumbia, but the label attached to the type specimens is inscribed "No locality, Geol. 

 S. Can. 1909. ' ' No other specimen similar to the type is among numerous specimens 

 which I have examined from the vicinity of Departure Bay. I think it more likely 

 that the type was collected on the south or west coast of Vancouver Island. It was 

 probably an intertidal specimen living where there was some surf. 



Forma MONTEREYENSIS, new forma 



Plate 51, Figure 2; Plate 65, Figure 8; Plate 66, Figures 7, 7a, 7b; Plate 67, Figures 1, la, 3, 3a 



This forma is distinguished from biordinata (which it resembles in having heavier 

 spines than forma Tcoehleri) in having uniformly slender, long rays, unusually thick 



