430 THE VOYAGE OF H.MS. CHALLENGER 
adambulacral plates behind the first pair are more frequently in single series than in 
oblique pairs, forming a slightly oblique line on the ridge much more distinctly than in 
Pholidaster sqwamatus. The spinelets are also rather shorter than in that species, and 
show a slight tendency to be curved. 
Colour in alcohol, a bleached greyish white, with a tendency to a light brownish shade. 
Locality.—Station 192. In the Banda Sea, between the Ki Islands and the Banda 
Islands. September 26, 1874. Lat. 5° 49’ 15” S., long. 132° 14’ 15” E. Depth 140 
fathoms. Blue mud. Surface temperature 82°'0 Fahr. 
Family StTICHASTERID, Perrier, 1885. 
The general structure of the small group of forms now classified together fully warrants, 
in my opinion, their recognition as an independent family. The skeleton of Stichaster 
differs so essentially from that of the Asteriide that I venture to think the justice of the 
step taken by Perrier’ will not be disputed. I differ, however, from Perrier, in that I 
exclude from the Stichasteride the genus Zoroaster, which, with its allies, I have placed 
in a separate family. The Stichasteridz in many respects occupy an intermediate position 
between the Zoroasteride and the Asteriide. 
Of the two new genera which I have ranked in this family, Neomorphaster and Tar- 
saster, the former is especially striking for the approach it presents to the Zoroasteride. 
The family comprises the genera Stechaster, Neomorphaster, and Tarsaster. 
Genus Stichaster, Miller and Troschel. 
Stichaster, Miiller and Troschel, Monatsber. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, 1840, April, p. 102. 
Tonia, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1840, vol. vi. p. 180. 
Celasterias, Verrill, Trans. Conn. Acad. Arts and Sci. 1871 (1867), vol. i. part 2, p. 247. 
Stephanasterias, Verrill, Bull. Essex Institute, 1872 (1871), vol. iii. p. 5 (non Stephanaster, Ayres, 1851). 
So far as at present known this genus appears to be confined to the temperate and 
frigid zones ; and most of the species are probably limited bathymetrically to the Littoral 
zone, only two occurring in the Continental zone and one in the Abyssal zone. 
Chorology of the Genus Stichaster. 
a. Geographical distribution :— 
ATLANTIC : Six species between the parallels of 80° N. and 60° S. 
*Stichaster albulus, from Greenland, the northern coasts of the 
American continent, Iceland, and Spitzbergen. *Stichaster roseus, 
from the coasts of Britain and Norway. Stichaster arcticus, off 
1 Ann. Sct. Nat. (Zool.), 1885, t. xix. Art. No. 8, p. 15., 
