REPORT ON THE ASTEROIDEA, 43 
state the number present in each papularium on account of the size and propinquity of the 
paxillee ; and no superficial character is noticeable to indicate their extent. 
The madreporiform body, which is small, subcircular or oval, and scarcely convex, is 
situated midway between the centre and the margin. Its surface is furrowed by coarse 
striations, of which only a few are convoluted, and the general direction of the grooves 
traverses the plate. Three sides are bounded by large paxille, that on the adcentral side 
being largest. 
Colour in alcohol, a greyish white. 
Young Phase.—A small example, having the dimensions of R=16 mm. and r=3'7 mm., 
may be recognised unmistakably as belonging to this species. Indeed, so clearly does this 
juvenile present the characters of the mature stage that very little need be said about it, 
except to place on record the early age at which in this genus the specific features are 
assumed. In the example under notice there are eighteen supero-marginal plates between 
the median interradial line and the terminal plate. The paxillee of the abactinal area are 
large and well-developed, but with seldom more than a single circlet of spinelets surrounding 
the central one, which is proportionately large and robust. Traces, however, of the addi- 
tional series of spinelets, which are borne on the tabulum in the adult stage, are to be 
found here and there. The primary basal plates are large and distinct. In: the actinal 
interradial areas there are not more than two or four intermediate plates, and the large 
and characteristic comb-formed pedicellarize, which are such a notable feature in the adult, 
are not yet formed, excepting a single incipient one which is present in one area. The 
spinulation of the infero-marginal plates and the armature of the adambulacral plates have 
precisely the same character as in the adult. The acutely-angular and far-reaching pro- 
jection of the adambulacral plates into the furrow is especially to be remarked, and the 
oblique lineal series of three to five spinelets on their actinal surface is fully characterised. 
The mouth-plates are broad and convex, and their armature well-developed. 
Locality.—Station 192. In the Banda Sea, between the Ki Islands and Banda Islands. 
September 26, 1874. Lat. 5° 49’ 15” S., long, 182° 14/15” E. Depth 140 fathoms. 
Blue mud. Surface temperature 82°:0 Fahr. 
Remarks.—This species is readily distinguished by the character of the adambulacral 
armature, as well as by the posture and spinulation of the marginal plates, and the 
character of the paxillee of the abactinal area. I know of no other form with which it 
can be confounded. 
7. Pontaster forcipatus, n. sp. (Pl. VIII. figs. 3 and 4; Pl. XII. figs. 3 and 4), 
Rays five R=59 mm.; r=11 mm. R<5‘57. Breadth of a ray near the base, 
9°5 mm. 
Rays elongate, narrow, very slightly expanded at the base, tapering continuously 
up to the extremity. Interbrachial arcs widely rounded. Abactinal surface of disk and 
