ASTERIAS. 103 
a, Off North Rona, 53 fms. ‘ Knight Errant ’ Exp. 
b, Tobermory, Mull, 30 fms. John Murray, Esq. 
4, Asterias murrayi. (Plate XII. figs. 1 & 2.) 
Asterias murrayi, Bell, Ann, § Mag. vii. (1891) p. 478, pl. xv. 
R=7r. 
Arms and disk flattened, the shallow sides nearly vertical; disk 
small ; arms slender, with somewhat constricted bases. Ambulacra 
wide, feebly constricted at base, but otherwise tapering regularly ; 
the ordinary arrangement of the adambulacral spines is the alternate 
disposal of one or two on successive plates. On the outer side of 
the shallow groove that bounds these spines is an irregular set of 
spines, which, where most orderly, are arranged in two longitudinal 
rows; sometimes they are grouped in threes, and the set is placed 
transversely to the long axis. The side of the arm is bare of spines ; 
along its upper edge is a single row of spines; this never seems to 
be doubled. At first sight a large specimen may seem to have no 
other spines on its dorsal surface but a faintly indicated row along 
the middle line, and neither optical nor tactile examination will 
reveal many more, save just a few on and about the disk. The 
whole surface will, however, be found to be densely covered with 
pedicellarie. On smaller specimens there are a larger number of 
smaller spines on the arms, but they are never numerous. Madre- 
porite large, distinct, quite close to margin of disk. 
Colour violet or greyish violet, darker when dried, lighter when 
preserved in spirit. 
Hab, Only known from West coasts of Scotland and Ireland. 
R=173; 97. r= 24; 14. 
a, b. Upper Loch Fyne, 65 fms. John Murray, Esq. 
c, d. Wilbrennan Sound, 22 fms. John Murray, [sq. 
e, f. Between Great Cumbrae and Wemyss Ground. John Murray, sq. 
g, h. West coast of Ireland, R. Dublin Soe. 
5. Asterias hispida, (Plate XII. figs. 3 & 4.) 
Asterias hispida, Penn. Brit. Zool, iv. (1777) p. 52, fig. 58; Norman, 
Ann. § Mag. xv. (1865) p. 128; Bell, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 508; Scott, 
Proce. R. Phys. Soc, Edin. 1890-1 (1892), p. 81. 
Stellonia hispida, Forbes, Mem. Wern., Soc. viii. (1839) p. 123. 
Uraster hispida, id. Brit. Starf. (1840) p. 95; Thompson, Nat. Hist. 
Trel, iy. (1856; p. 439, 
Asterias rubens, var. hispida, Hodge, Trans. Northumb. § Durh. iv. 
(1872) p. 187. 
R = 3'5r to 2r. 
A small squat form, not known to grow large. Arms short, 
broad at base, rather swollen, as is the disk. Ambulacra deep, 
very wide at base, bounded by a single row of rather strong spines ; 
the next row of spines forms the ventro-lateral line; the dorsal 
