130 VERRILL 



perhaps be found on the sides of the ray in specimens more perfect 

 than those we possess. The papulae stand singly or in groups of 

 three or four, arranged in indistinct longitudinal rows. Diameter, 

 one inch and a half. 



" Habitat, Monterey, California. A. S. Taylor." 



Common on the coast of California. Ranges from San Diego 

 north to Puget Sound and Vancouver Island. Monterey (Stimpson; 

 Stevens ; R. E. C. Stearns) . 



This species is not a typical Lepiasterias. It differs from most 

 species of that genus in the apparent longitudinal or " stichasterial " 

 arrangement of dorso-lateral plates, and in having the minute spines 

 closely clustered on the plates, much as in Stephmtasterias and in 

 Henricia, so that its appearance is superficially like one of the Stichas- 

 terinje. However, its dorso-lateral plates are not so wide, nor so 

 closely imbricated, as in that group, nor even so much so as in Sten- 

 asterias. Its genital pores and reproduction are not known. 



This species varies considerably in its form and spinulation. I 

 have examined numerous specimens from Monterey, the type 

 locality, collected by several different persons. It seems to be very 

 abundant on that part of the coast, between tides. 



Owing to its variability it may be divided into several varieties 

 or local races, though these doubtless intergrade at intermediate 

 stations. 



The rather dwarf littoral form from California is certainly the 

 original or type-form, and should therefore be designated as variety 

 aqualis, if varieties be recognized. 



LEPTASTERIAS ^QUALIS Var. COMPACTA Verrill, nov. 



Plate LVi, figure 5. 



The type of this form is much larger and more fully developed 

 than the ordinary littoral varieties. The radii are 15 mm. and 

 45 mm. ; ratio, about i : 3. 



The six arms are evenly rounded above and densely covered with 

 small capitate spines standing in large clusters on each ossicle. They 

 fonn a distinct, wide, median band, and two other similar bands on 

 each side are defined by the rows of papular pores. The dorsal 

 ossicles are in five rows, strong, elevated in the middle, closely united 

 in rows and somewhat imbricated, especially in the median row. A 

 close circle of small capitate spines, like the dorsals, surrounds the 

 madreporic plate, which has numerous fine irregular gyri. The 



