REPORT ON THE ASTEROIDEA. 55 
Station 79.—Between the Azores and Madeira. July 11, 1873. Lat. 36° 21’ 0” N., 
long. 23° 31/0” W. Depth 2025 fathoms. Globigerina ooze. Bottom temperature 35°°9 
Fahr. ; surface temperature 71°°5 Fahr. 
10a. Pontaster venustus, var. robusta, nov. 
There is a single example of Pontaster dredged in the neighbourhood of the Cape 
Verde Islands, which I place, though with some hesitation, as a variety of this species. 
Although it accords with the general structural formula of the species just described, it 
has a remarkably well marked individuality ; and until a further supply of material is 
available I propose to recognise it as a nominal variety of Pontaster venustus, 
As compared with the type-form, the observer is at once struck with the massive 
character of the rays and the remarkable breadth of the border of marginal plates on 
the abactinal surface, which is nearly as great as the width of the paxillar area, midway 
between the centre and the extremity of the ray. The supero-marginal plates are very 
large and massive, and their breadth is greater than their length. The remaining features 
seem to be only differences of degree, and I do not therefore feel justified, on the scanty 
material of a single example, in ranking this as a separate species. Thus, the large spines 
on the marginal plates of both series are relatively shorter and more robust, and the small 
but definite spine below the lateral spine is either absent altogether or very greatly 
diminished. The spinelets which compose the paxillze are longer and very delicate ; and 
the spinelet on the actinal surface of the adambulacral plate is remarkably robust, short, 
and conical. In the example under notice there are twenty-five supero-marginal plates, 
counting from the median interradial line to the extremity; and the measurements are, 
R=50 mm.; r= 10 mm. Breadth of the ray between the second and third supero- 
marginal plate, 10°5 mm. 
Locality.—Off the Cape Verde Islands. There is no record of the position, depth, or 
conditions. 
11. Pontaster trullipes, n. sp. (Pl. IX. figs. 3 and 4; Pl. XII. figs. 9 and 10). 
Rays five. R=27mm.;7r=525mm. R-> 5r. Breadth of the ray at the base, 
5-5°5 mm. : 
Rays elongate and narrow, tapering continuously up to the extremity, the outer 
part of the ray being moderately attenuate. Interbrachial arcs well rounded. Abactinal 
surface subplane, sloping slightly from the disk to the extremities of the rays. A slight 
tumidity present in the paxillar areas at the base of the rays in the neighbourhood of 
the papularium. Actinal surface flat and level. 
The paxille of the abactinal surface are very small, simple, and well spaced. About 
