REPORT ON THE ASTEROIDEA. 203 
which are shorter than the furrow series, and are flat and expanded towards the tip, which 
is roundly truncate. The outer series, likewise of three spines, is similar to the second 
series, the middle spinelet, however, being usually broader and more flaring than its com- 
panions; occasionally there may be an additional small spine present in this series. The 
furrow series is directed more or less over the furrow; the second series is usually per- 
pendicular ; and the outer series is directed outward towards the margin of the ray. There 
is also a tendency in the spinelets to radiate apart. Consequent on this mode of arrange- 
ment, the armature of the adambulacral plates has a very widely expanded character on 
the whole. 
The actinal intermediate plates, which are small and very few in number, are confined 
to the immediate interradial area. The spinelets that cover them are small, more or 
less subspatulate in form, and radiate apart. : 
The mouth-plates are of moderate size, each pair forming a subtubercular prominence, 
and their whole surface is covered with small, robust, papilliform spinelets, which form two 
or three lineal series on each plate. These spinelets increase in length towards the inner 
extremity, the innermost ones not being much longer or more prominent than the rest. 
The madreporiform body is very small, and is situated at about one-third of the 
distance from the margin to the centre, and sometimes rather further away from the 
margin even than this. In some specimens there is a faint depression along the median 
line of a ray; and in large examples a similar slight sulcus occurs on the outer portion of 
the median interradial line. 
Colour in alcohol, a light purplish shade, of which only a trace remains in some speci- 
mens, the rest being almost ashy white. 
Localities.—Port Jackson. Depth 6 to 15 fathoms. 
Station 161. Off the entrance to Port Philip. April 1, 1874. Lat. 38° 22’ 30” S., 
long. 144° 36’ 30” E. Depth 38 fathoms. Sand. Surface temperature 63°°5 Fahr. 
Station 162. Off East Moncceur Island, Bass Strait. April 2, 1874. Lat. 39° 10’ 30” 
S., long. 146° 37’ 0” E. Depth 38 to 40 fathoms. Sand and shells. Surface temperature 
63°°2 Fahr. 
Remarks.—This species is perhaps most nearly related to Astropecten peruvianus, 
Verrill, but is distinguished by the character of the adambulacral armature and by the 
proportions of the lateral spines. It is distinguished from all the other pectinated species 
of Astropecten by the single continuous series of spinelets on the supero-marginal plates. 
5. Astropecten acanthifer, Sladen (Pl. XXXIV. figs. 1 and 2; Pl. XXXVIII. figs. 
1-3). 
Astropecten acanthifer, Sladen, 1883, Journ. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Zool.), vol. xvii. p. 253. 
Rays five R=90mm.; r=14 mm. R>6‘5r, Breadth of a ray at the base, 
14°5 mm. 
