26 Pub. Puget Sound Biol. Sta. Vol. 2, No. 33 



KEY TO SPECIES 



A. Dorsal spines in 5 or more indistinct radial rows. 1. 0. columbiana 



AA. Dorsal spines in 1 to 3 radial rows with others scattered or reticulate. 



B. Dorsal spines in 3 indistinct rows with a few scattered ones ; no 



pedicellariae hook-like. 3. 0. forreri 



BB. Dorsal spines in 1 median radial row, others reticulated; some 



minor pedicellariae hook-like. 2a. 0. forreri forcipulata 



1. Orthasterias columbiana Verrill. 



Dorsal spines 5 rows with intermediate ones scattered between; papu- 

 lar areas small ; dorsal plates large, thick, firmly united by lobes ; dorsal 

 spines long, columnar, rough-fluted with wreaths of minor pedicellariae 

 above the middle of the spines ; lower marginal spines in 2 rows ; actinals 

 in 1 row ; adambulacral sj^ines flattened, those near mouth longer and 

 more slender. Color usually yellow with bright red markings. — Rather 

 numerous, in deep water and along tide line. 



2. Orthasterias forreri (De Loriol) Verrill. 



Asterias forreri De Loriol. 



Dorsal spines long, in 3 indistinct longitudinal rows, with some scat- 

 tered intermediate ones ; upper marginals large, in 1 row, 2 to a plate ; 

 lower marginals in 2 rows, flattened or gouge-shaped; actinal plates and 

 spines small ; adambulacral spines long, flattened ; minor pedicellariae large, 

 toothed at tips, about half as long as major pedicellariae, forming large 

 loose basal circumspinal wreaths; larger major pedicellariae nearly as 

 stout as the spines but shorter, usually of 2 or more kinds. Type not 

 found in our locality. 



2a. Orthasterias forreri forcipulata Verrill. 



Asterias (UrasteTnas) forcipulata Verrill. 



Dorso-lateral spines long, rather slender, arranged in median radial 

 rows with open net-work on each side of radial rows ; papular areas large ; 

 ambulacral plates and spines crowded, spines slender. Minor pedicellariae 

 large, abundant, of 2 kinds ; some of the ordinary forcejjs-like sort ; others 

 arched widely, looking in profile like hooks (Fig.30) ; dorsal pedicellariae in 

 large groups on the dermis and around the bases of spines. — Not numerous. 



Genus Leptasterias 



Size small ; rays normally 6, rarely 5 ; disk medium. Dorsal plates 

 usually lobed and overlapping; dorsal spines numerous, often club-like or 

 capitate, equal or unequal, arranged net-like or in groups or in longitudinal 

 or radial rows; papular areas small; marginal and interactinal spines 

 longer than dorsals; interactinals usually 1 row, sometimes 2 rows near 



