351 [VerriU. 



Stichaster albulus Yerrill. 



Aster acanthion albulus Stimpson, Inv. Grand Mcnan, p. 14, fio-. 5, 

 1853. Asteracanthion prohlema Steenstrup, 1854; Liitken, Gronlanrls 

 Echin. p. 30, 1857. 



This remarkable species occurs frequently at Eastport, Me., and 

 Grand Menan, in ten to twenty fathoms, rocky bottoms, and anions- 

 Nullipora ; also frequent at low-water of spring tides among rocks. 



The specimens are seldom more than one and a half inches in di- 

 ameter, and usually much smaller. They have mostly three long and 

 three short rays, but occasionally there are four short ones, and some- 

 times, even in specimens half an inch in diameter, the six rays are 

 equal. Specimens fi-om Greenland sent by Dr. Liitken, under the 

 name of Asterias prohlema^ agree perfectly with Eastport specimens. 



Variety niiida. 



A specimen found near Eastport at low-water by Mr. S. I. Smith, 

 is remarkable for its large size and regular form, but presents no 

 peculiarities that may not be considered as due to increased age. 



The diameter is four inches ; of disk .5 ; width of rays at base ,35. 

 Rays six, equal, evenly rounded, and gradually tapering. The me- 

 dian row of plates quite distinct, with about seven, nearly equal 

 rows on each side, all of them close set and regular. Beneath, there 

 is a ventral row on each side, somewhat more prominent, bearino- 

 four or five spines in a transverse row, those next the am1)ulacra long- 

 est; these plates unite directly with the interambulacral plates without 

 any pores between them. The interambulacral plates bear two or 

 three, and sometimes four, long, tapering, rather slender, obtuse spines. 



The dorsal plates are crowned by eight to twelve, small, some- 

 what radiating spines, thicker and more obtuse than those of the or- 

 dinary variety. The major pedicellarias are in a row along each 

 edge of the ambulacral furrows, and there is one below in each angle 

 between the rays, as in the small specimens, and occasionally one on 

 the interambulacral spines. They are small, oval, stout, and rather 

 obtuse. The minor pedicellariaB are very small, rounded, and are 

 numerous on the lateral and dorsal spines, and crowded in large clus- 

 ters on the ventral spines, chiefly on the side toward the end of the 

 ray. The papulse are not very numerous, rather large, mostly in 

 pairs. Suckers numerous and much crowded, in four rows. 



Eehinarachnius parma Gray 



Yery abundant from extreme low-water to twenty fathoms at East- 

 port and Grand ^lenan, on sandy bottoms, half buried in sand. Com- 

 mon from Lono; Island to Labrador. 



