270 



In life, this species is of a very pale flesh-color, or white. 



Diameter, two and one-half inches ; breadth of ray at the middle, 

 one-sixth of an inch. It is related to A. Miilleri, Sars. 



Twenty specimens of this species were dredged from a rocky 

 bottom in twenty fathoms, in Massachusetts Bay, ten miles south of 

 Cape Ann. Wm. Stimpson. 



AsTERiAS coMrxA (nov. sp.) 



Rays five, depressed, regularly rounded above, and not at all angu- 

 lar; disc small Proportion of the diameters, 1:5.5. Ambulacral 

 and interambulacral plates large and not crowded. Ambulacral 

 spines slender, arranged alternately one and two to each plate, form- 

 ing three irregular rows ; those in the two outer rows bearing thick 

 clusters of minor pedicellarias on their outer sides. There are also 

 some minute pedicellarias in the furrows on the interambulacral 

 plates. There is no clear distinction between tha ventral and lateral 

 spines, but beyond the ambulacral spines there are several longitu- 

 dinal rows of slender, cylindrical, or somewhat tapering spines, and 

 then a pretty well marked channel separating them from the dorsal 

 spines proper. Of these latero-ventral spines, which are surrounded 

 afbase by thick wreaths of minor pedicellarias, there are four rows 

 near the disc, three at the middle, and two at the end of the ray, — 

 the inner and outer rows fading out. The spines of the back are 

 evenly distributed, without order however, and are numerous, very 

 slim, shorter than the ventral spines, and surrounded by very thick 

 wreaths of minor pedicellarise, thickest toward the end of the ray, 

 where they are in contact with each other. In the angle of the rays 

 below a major pedicellaria occurs, which is about half as long as an 

 ambulacral spine, one-tliird longer than broad, and obtuse. The 

 papulffi stand singly. Diameter, three inches. 



The very thick wreaths of pedicellarias will serve to distinguish 

 this beautiful species from A. Miilleri, Grcenlandica and tene?'a, to all 

 which it is related in its general characteristics. 



Dredged in thirty-two fathoms, in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast 

 of New Jersey, by Capt. Gedney, U. S. N. 



ASTERIAS CRIBRARIA (nOV. Sp.) 



This species has very much the aspect of a Crihrella. Body thick 

 and tumid, with a smoothish appearance resulting from the great 

 number and small size of the spines. Skin rather pliable or coria- 

 ceous ; ossicles very slender, but very numerous. Rays five, not 

 contracted at base, and rather higher than broad. Disc rather large. 

 Proportion of the diameters 1 : 4.8. Ambulacral pores not crowded, 

 and forming two zigzag rows rather than four distinct rows. Some 

 small, acutely triangular major pedicellariae in the furrows. Ambu- 



