REPORT ON THE ASTEROIDEA. 303 
these outer series of paxilla extends beyond the base of the ray. The margin of the 
tabulum is surrounded by ten to fourteen short, truncate, papilliform granules, and in the 
centre are usually two small semiglobular granules, though one only frequently occurs in 
the outer rows ; occasionally four are present. Very few of the paxille on the abactinal 
area are furnished with pedicellariz. 
The abactinal interradial areas are very small and triangular in outline ; the plates 
(paxille), which are square or subrhomboid, are closely placed and have no papule between 
them. They form series parallel to the radial series above described, but there is no 
abrupt indication of the median interradial line by the converging series, and not more 
than five or six plates are present in the longest row. These plates have a marginal series 
of papilliform granules and one in the centre. 
The primary embryonic plates are discernible. The basals and dorso-central are larger 
than the other plates, and the under-basals are larger than the radials. The under-basals 
appear normally to be in contact with the dorso-central plate, but two or three irreoular 
plates are present. The madreporiform body is subcircular, with numerous minute striz, 
and lies external to the adjacent basal plate, which covers a rather larger area. 
Colour in alcohol, a yellowish white. 
Locality.—Station 219. North of Admiralty Island. March 10, 1875. Lat. 1° 54’ 
0” S., long. 146° 39’ 40” E. Depth 150 fathoms. Coral mud. Surface temperature 
84°-0 Fahr. 
Remarks.—It is possible that this form may turn out ultimately to be the young of 
Nymphaster symbolicus, when a more extended range of specimens can be studied. So 
far, however, as judgment can be drawn from a single specimen, the characters appear to 
be so well marked that I prefer to place the form for the present as an independent species. 
The difference of the abactinal paxillee from those of Nymphaster symbolicus is very 
marked, the armature of the adambulacral plates also, but in a less degree ; furthermore, 
the larger size and smaller number of the actinal intermediate plates, as well as the shorter 
and comparatively broader rays, all seem to warrant its recognition as a distinct species, 
notwithstanding the fact that the characters referred to are all largely implicated in 
erowth changes. 
3. Nymphaster protentus, n. sp. (Pl. L. figs. 3 and 4; Pl. LIIL figs. 9 and 10). 
Rays fivee R=71mm.; r=18 mm. R<47. The minor radius is thus in the pro- 
portion of about 25 per cent. 
Rays elongate, tapering continuously from a fairly robust base to a slender-pointed 
extremity, the outer half being very narrow and attenuate. Width midway between the 
centre of the disk and the extremity, 55 mm.; width at the commencement of the outer 
fourth, 3 mm. Interbrachial arcs wide and well rounded. 
