ECHINODERMATA 523 



These agree well with Verrill's description of L. tesselata^ which 

 Sladen considers a synonym of columbice. One specimen has rays 

 215 mm. long and the other 170 mm. The color is dull bluish or 

 greenish above, and yellow beneath. In the larger specimen one of 

 the granules on the paxillag is often inuch larger than the others, and 

 rather spine-like. This species is known from various points along 

 the western coast of Mexico and Central America from San Bias to 

 Panama. 

 Pentaceros occidentalis (Verrill) . 



The rays are 140 mm. long, and R : r = 3.15 : i. One large speci- 

 men was taken at Tagus Cove ; is also found on the western coast 

 of Mexico and Lower California. 

 Nidorellia armata (Gray). 



The collection contains thirteen dried specimens of this species, all 

 from Tagus Cove. The largest is 123 mm. across, the smallest 90. 

 There is great diversity in the number of spines and marginal plates ; 

 one specimen has only 60 superior marginal plates, while all the rest 

 have from 70 to 74. In one specimen every superior marginal plate 

 bears a stout spine, while in another there are only eleven such spines 

 altogether. Common on the Pacific Coast, from southern California 

 to Ecuador. 



Paulia horrida Gray. 



There are 5 dried specimens, collected at Tagus Cove in from 5 to 50 

 feet of water. The largest has rays ^() mm. long. Also known from 

 the coast of Ecuador. 

 Pharia pyramidata (Gray) . 



Of this species there are 5 dry specimens from Tagus Cove, and i 

 alcoholic from Iguana Cove. The largest has rays iSo mm. long. 

 Previously known from the west coast, from Margarita Bay to Colombia. 

 Phataria unifascialis (Gray). 



One dry specimen from Tagus Cove, with rays 98 mm. long. Has 

 been collected along the coast from Margarita Bay to Zorritas, Peru. 

 Heliaster cumingi (Gray). 



Of this curious starfish, there are 6 dry specimens from Tagus Cove 

 and one alcoholic specimen from Iguana Cove; one has 32, one has 

 33, two have 34, one has 35, one has 36, and one has 37 rays; the 

 last is the largest, about 140 mm. across. R:r= 7:6. Color pur- 

 plish black above, with pale yellow spines, and on the oral surface 

 dirty yellowish. Easily distinguished from the following species, not 

 only by its color, but by the very short rays, and numerous equal 



