394 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
Subfamily PALMIPEDIN®, Sladen, 1888. 
Genus Palmipes, Linck. 
Palmipes, Linck, De Stellis marinis, 1733, p. 29. 
Anseropoda, Nardo, De Asteriis, Oken’s Isis, 1834, p. 716. 
Asteriscus (pars), Miiller and Troschel, Monatsber. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, 1840, p. 104. 
This remarkable and sharply defined genus appears to be comparatively local in its 
occurrence, although the recorded localities are widely distributed. The small number of spe- 
cies indicates a very limited range of morphological variation, which is all the more remark- 
able when the isolated character of the structure of the genus is taken into consideration. 
The structural peculiarities of Palmipes have led me to place the genus in a distinct 
subfamily, in which I have included the allied genus Stegnaster. With these I am 
inclined to think that Tremaster, Verrill, should also be associated; but as I have not 
had an opportunity of examining the structure of that form, and as no account of its 
details has been published, nor any suggestion as to the affinities of this abnormal genus 
thrown out by its author, I feel at present some uncertainty as to whether 7remaster 
should be classed with the Palmipedine or Asterinine. 
Chorology of the Genus Palmipes. 
a. Geographical distribution :-— 
ATLANTIC : One species between the parallels of 30° and 65° N. 
Palmipes membranaceus, off the British Islands, in the English 
Channel, off the coast of France, and in the Mediterranean and the 
Adriatic. 
InpIAN OcEAN: One species between the parallels of 10° and 25° N. 
Palmipes rosaceus, from the Bay of Bengal (Berlin Mus.). This 
form also occurs off Japan (fide Gray). 
Pactric : Two species between the parallels of 40° N. and 5’ S. 
Palmipes diaphanus, from North of Admiralty Island; and 
Palmipes rosaceus, from Japan, the latter extending to the Bay 
of Bengal. 
8. Bathymetrical range: 20 to 150 fathoms. 
Greatest range of one species: Palnipes membranaceus, 20 to 100 fathoms. 
y. Nature of the Sea-bottom: Palmipes diaphanus lives on Coral mud. 
The nature of the ground inhabited by Palmipes membranaceus and Palmipes 
rosaceus is not recorded. The want of information in the case of the compara- 
tively common form, Palmipes membranaceus, is surprising. 
