NEW STARFISHES FROM THE PACIFIC COAST 1 33 



ules become much larger than the rest and have very fine 

 points. Distally the spinules form 2 palmate series, but there 

 is more or less variation in their numbers. The non-prominent 

 longitudinally oriented plates vary considerably in size, and 

 decrease markedly in size distad, whereas the others become 

 more prominent. Except at base of ray, they are not nearly 

 so high as transverse plates and are rounded to elliptical-ob- 

 long, bearing upwards to 25 very short spinelets in about 3 or 4 

 longitudinal series. At tip of ray these plates are very small, 

 bearing a group of 5 or more delicate spinelets. 



Actinal interradial areas small, with small, closely-placed, 

 paxilliform plates bearing 4 to 10 spinelets, which are more del- 

 icate than those of abactinal paxillae, although the latter are of 

 about the same size. Interradial paxillae about 10 to 20 in 

 number. Proceeding along ray almost to its tip is an incon- 

 spicuous series of very small actinal intermediate plates, often 

 rather widely separated, a plate usually opposite each adambu- 

 lacral plate, and distally bearing only a single small spinelet, or 

 none at all, proximally with 2 to 5 spinelets. 



Adambulacral plates with a palmate furrow series proximally 

 of 6 to 8, distally of 4 or 5, very delicate, tapering sharp skin- 

 covered spinules united for about a third their length by a web. 

 Mesial spinules longest (about one-third width of plate in length) 

 thence decreasing in length toward either end of series. On 

 actinal surface of plate a transverse comb of 4 or 5 slender, 

 needle-like, sharp spines, the 2 or 3 mesial much the longest, 

 the inner usually slightly longer than furrow spinules, often 

 much longer ; outermost spine usually nearly equal to the 

 longest, which exceeds in length width of plate. These 

 spines, like those of furrow series, invested in membrane, 

 which forms vane-like lateral expansions (causing the spinule 

 to appear broad and flat near base) and unites them in a com- 

 mon web by their bases. On distal part of ray the large adam- 

 bulacral spines are similar in size and appearance to the larger 

 inferomarginal spines, already described. 



Mouth-plates of the usual shape, rather prominent actinally. 

 Each plate with 3 long slightly tapering pointed spines at 

 inner end, these decreasing in size outward, so that third spine is 



