ASTROPECTEN. 67 
Asterias aranciaca, O. F. Miill. (non Linn.) Prod. Zool. Dan. (1776) 
p- 254, no. 2831; id. Zool. Dan. iii. (1789) p. 3, pl. lxxxiii. ; Flem. 
Brit. An. (1828) p. 486; Johnston, Loudon’s Mag. Nat. Hist. ix. 
(1836) p. 298, fiz. 43. 
Asterias aurantiaca, Forbes, Mem. Wern., Soe. viii. (1839) p.118 ; 2d. 
i eh (1840) p. 130; Thompson, Nat. Hist. Irel. iv. (1856) 
Meboreaten miilleri, M. Tr. Arch. f. Nat. x. (1844) p. 181; Diib. § 
Kor, Vet.-Akad. Hdlg. 1844 (1846) p. 246; Sars, Norg. Ech. 
(1861) p. 28; Perr. Ann. Sei. Nat. xii. (1869) p. 297; Mob. & 
Biitschh, JB. Comm. Kiel, ii. & iii. (1875) p. 146. 
Astropecten echinulata, M. Tr. Arch. f. Nat. x. (1844) p. 181. 
Astropecten acicularis, Norm. Ann. § Mag. xv. (1865) p. 116. 
R=3r to 45r. 
Flat ; arms well marked off from disk, tapering regularly and rather 
rapidly to an obtuse end. Ambulacral groove wide, bordered by three 
rows of spines, flattened and blunt at their tips, stronger without than 
within. The plates on the ventral surface are thickly covered with 
short, blunt, stout spinules, among which (especially near the angle 
of the mouth) a few longer and sharper spines may be scattered. 
At the sides the inferomarginal plates, which project somewhat 
beyond the superomarginals, bear a single row of long outwardly 
and upwardly curved spines; the superomarginals, which are more 
than twice as long vertically as they are horizontally, are closely 
covered with spinous granules, which on the extreme upper edge 
become developed into one, two, or three short conical spines. The 
paxillz on the upper surface small, in numerous regular rows. A 
prominent central ossicle. Madreporite rather large, distinct, near 
margin. 
The number of marginal plates varies with the length of the 
arms; a specimen of moderate length (5 to 6 inches) has about 40 
on either side of each arm. 
Colour very variable, from light red to yellow, with or without 
purple marks ; in spirit, light or dark yellow ; dry, darkish brown to 
light yellow above, rather lighter below. 
Width of arm 
R. r. at base. 
92 PAI 20 
79 NZ 18°5 
61 15 15 
49 15 15 
42 12 10°5 
ie 5 5°5 
Distribution. Eastern side of Atlantic from Norway to Liberia ; 
Mediterranean. 10-1000 fms. 
a-e. East of the Shetland Islands, 64-75 ‘ Porcupine’ Exp. (Sts, 67 
fms. & 68). 
f. Between Scotland and Faeroe Banks, ‘Porcupine’ Exp. (St. 46). 
374 fms. 
g. Ayrshire. Prof, E. Forbes. 
A. N.W. of Achill Head, 183 fms. ‘Porcupine ’ Exp. (St. 18). 
¥F2 
