349 [VerriU. 



the lateral spines are uniserial, and between them and the principal 

 ventral row, there are scattered many small spines, forming several 

 longitudinal rows ; the ventrals are fewer and smaller. The minor 

 pedicellarise are smaller and much less numerous ; the major pedi- 

 cellario3 are comparatively few, especially on the interambulacral 

 spines, where there is only an occasional one, and smaller. 



Asterias (Asteracanthion) littoralis (Stimp. sp.) 



Asterac.anth'wn littoralis Stimp. Inv. Grand Menan, p. 14, 1853. 

 Eastport, Me., and Grand Menan, abundant from half-tide to low- 

 water mark, among rocks and fuci. I have observed specimens three 

 inches in diameter, or even more. 



Asterias (Leptasterias) tenera Stimpson. These Froc. viii, 2G9, 

 1861. 



(?) Asteracanthion flaccida Ag. MS.; A. Ag. Embryol. Echin. pp. 

 22 and 29, 1864. (No description). 



Whether the species observed by Prof Agassiz to carry its eggs un- 

 til hatched, and said to be allied to A. Miilleri Sars, which it also 

 resembles in its habits, is this or the following, I am unable to deter- 

 mine, both being allied to A . Miilleri^ the present one especially so, but 

 as this species was fomid in Massachusetts Bay, like that observed by 

 Agassiz, I have referred it here with doubt. 



Ten miles south of Cape Ann, in twenty fathoms, rocky bottom. 

 Dr. Wm. Stimpson. 



At Eastport, Me., in twenty fathoms, I have dredged several small 

 specimens, about an inch in diameter, that appear to be referable to 

 this species. 



Asterias (Leptasterias) Stimp soni sp. nov. 



Asteracanthion Miilleri Stimp. op. cit. p. 14. (Not of Sars). 



Rays five, depressed, elongated, tapering regularly to the tips, 

 somewhat angular, owing to the prominence of the median, lateral 

 and ventral rows of spines. Radii as 1 : 4.5 in alcoholic specimens ; 

 nearly 1 : 5.5 when dry. Disk small, its radius about equal to the 

 width of the rays at base. Interambulacral spines round and slender, 

 blunt at tip, usually two upon each plate, sometimes alternately one 

 and two. Between these and the ventral series there are no small 

 spines, but toward the disk there is a series of pores, each of which 

 has a single large papula ("water tube"). The ventral plates bear 

 each two or three prominent blunt spines, longer and larger than the 

 preceding, forming a double series of alternating spines along the 

 lower side of the rays. Separated from these by a wide, naked space, 

 with rather large openings, which bear one or two large papulte, are 



