96. THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
series of six or seven delicate, tapering, sharply-pointed spinelets, arranged on the margin 
of the plate, and radiating apart horizontally over the furrow; the two or three median 
spinelets being the longest, and the outermost on each side less than one-third their 
length. (2.) On the surface of the plate is a lineal series of three or four small spinelets, 
running parallel to the median line of the ray and close behind the furrow series; one 
of these is comparatively elongate, tapering, and robust, whilst the others are mere papilli- 
form granules, irresularly spaced. On the outer margin of the plate a lineal series of 
miliary thornlets may be present. 
The mouth-plates are very elongate and narrow, the united pair being slightly convex. 
The median suture is imperfectly closed; the inner margin at the outer extremity of 
each plate is rounded, and a spiniferous plate is visible in the space thus formed. The 
free margin of each plate bears an armature of seven or eight very short, robust, obtuse 
and slightly flattened mouth-spines, the innermost of which is the largest. On the surface 
of the plate five or six papilliform spinelets form a short, closely-placed series, parallel 
to the median suture, which does not extend along more than half the length of the 
plate, and the spinelets diminish in length as they recede from the mouth. ‘The rest of 
the surface of the plate bears small papilliform granules widely spaced. 
The actinal interradial areas are extensive as compared with the small size of the star- 
fish, and are occupied by a large number of regularly disposed intermediate plates. The 
plates are arranged in reoular transverse series, which proceed from the adambulacral 
plates to the marginal plates; those adjacent to the adambulacral plate are subequal in 
their major dimension to its length, but succeeding plates in a column diminish in length 
as they proceed outward, and each plate imbricates slightly upon its predecessor. Five 
or six plates may be counted in the column or series adjacent to the median interradial 
line, and the number in a series decreases gradually as they proceed along the ray, the 
innermost plate (that adjacent to the adambulacral) alone being present at last; these 
extend as far as the seventh marginal plate, which is thus separated from the tenth 
adambulacral plate; beyond this the adambulacral and marginal plates are contingent. 
The surface of the plates is covered with numerous short, uniform, papilliform, spinelets, 
rather widely spaced; and their arrangement does not in any way simulate a paxilla. 
The individuality of the plates is clearly defined, and the regularity of their disposition is 
conspicuous. 
An anal aperture appears to be present in a subcentral position, but is very 
indistinct. 
The madreporiform body is little more than its own diameter distant from the margin, 
is hidden by paxillze, and superficially invisible. 
Colour in alcohol, a dirty ashy grey-white, with traces of a light brown shade on the 
paxillar area. 
Locality —Station 164. East of Sydney, New South Wales. June 12,1874. Liat. 
