﻿272 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [VOL. 47 



C. ULRICHI STELLIFER n. var. 

 (Plate XL, figure 9; Plate XLI, figure 6) 



This variety is distinguished by the great prominence of the star 

 ornamentation of the theca, caused by the fusing together of many 

 smaller pieces into large plates, where the pores appear to pass 

 through the plates and not between them. In this condition the pores 

 may remain as simple, round perforations, or 2 of adjoining angles 

 may be drawn out into a narrow slit, giving the impression of true 

 dichopores. In other individuals the stellation seems to leave very 

 large openings, much like those in the calcareous skeleton of the com- 

 mon starfish, Asterias forbcsii. The size of some of these openings 

 is undoubtedly increased by weathering, but they were originally very 

 much larger than those in C. ulrichi. 



Formation and locality. — This variety is always found very poorly 

 preserved, and distorted by rock pressure. The extremely loose 

 structure of the calcareous skeleton may have been the cause of the 

 smashed condition of these individuals, and their consequent frag- 

 mentary nature when weathered out on the surface. Found asso- 

 ciated with C. ulrichi. 



Cat. numbers 35,086-35,088, U. S. N. M. 



