Bknhaim. — Stellerids and Echinids from tlw Kermadecs. ]4;'» 



The papular areas are occupied by numerous papulae. 



The actinal skeleton in the interbrachial area consists of more or less 

 oval imbricating plates, with the longer axis radially directed. There are 

 no pedicellariae on this surface. 



The adambulacral armature is formed by 2 rows of spines : the furrow- 

 series of 2 spines to each ossicle, cylindrical, blunt-pointed, and closi' 

 together ; the actinal spines (or outer series) are broader, more conical, 

 and also bluntly pointed. In the proximal half of the arm there are 2 

 actinal spines to each ossicle, but further out 1 only. 



(6.) By the kindness of Mr. Edgar Waite, the Curator of the Canter- 

 bury Museum, I have been allowed to examine the type of the species. It 

 is in much better condition than mine, as it has evidently been carefully 

 dried, and the skeletal plates are not disturbed. It has faded to a dirty- 

 yellow colour. 



The disc-plates are quite distinctly seen through the skin ; the chief 

 ones are lobed as in the above specimens, and are connected by short 

 ossicles so as to form a network ; but the width of the meshes is smaller, the 

 length and number of rods being less than in the above. The distinctly 

 lobed or rosette plates on the arm, both median and lateral, have the same 

 arrangement, and there are the same interbrachial lines of plates. Mr. 

 Farquhar's figure was drawn, I suspect, from the wet specimen, so that 

 the plates are not clearly shown. 



I may note that on one side of one arm, which bears a normal pair of 

 pedicellariae, there is a trivalved pedicellaria as shown in Farquhar's figure, 

 situated just in front of one of the normal bivalved pedicellariae, and 

 symmetrical with a small bivalve on the opposite side of this arm. 



(c.) In the small individuals the short rods connecting the rosette plates 

 are still fewer, or absent, so that the plates are in contact. The supra- 

 raarginals touch the radials for about half the length of the arms, then 

 there is a single row of intermediates. On the disc the plates are im- 

 bricated. 



The dried specimens measure R 45, ;• 20 ; and E, 40, r 19. 



Colour. — The colour in life is described by Mr. Oliver as " bright red." 

 The dried ones are still carmine-red ; those in alcohol are bright orange. 



Locality. — Oliver states that they are " not common." They occur on 

 rocks near and below low-water mark. Meyer Island (29/2/1908) ; Boat 

 Cove, Sunday Island (1/5/1908). Farquhar's specimen also came from here. 



Distribution. — The genus is represented by A. vernicina on the Aus- 

 iralian coast. For the opportunity of comparing the Kermadec species 

 vvith this I am indebted to Mr. Etheridge, Curator of the Australian 

 Museum, who was good enough to send me specimens of the Australian 

 species. 



Gymnasteria lissotergum sp. nov. Figs. 4 and 5. 



Three small starfishes seem to require the formation of a new species. 



Dimensions. — R 11, r 6-5. The smaller has R 6, r 4. The ratio r:R 

 is 1 : 1-84 and 1 : 1-5. 



Flat, star-shaped, with broad arms (7 mm. at the base), rounded at 

 the tip. The abactinal surface is covered with flat roundish hexagonal 

 plates of relatively large size, pavement-like in their arrangement, and 

 covered by a rough finely granulated skin. Papulae occur in lines between 

 the plates. 



