REPORT ON THE ASTEROIDEA. 573 
Asterias minuta, Retzius, 1805, Dissert. sist. spec. cog. Asteriarum, p. 24. 
Stellonia rubens, Nardo, 1834, De Asteriis, Oken’s Isis, p. 716. 
Asteracanthion rubens, Miiller and Troschel, 1840 (April), Monatsber. d, k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss, 
Berlin, p. 102. 
Uraster rubens, Forbes, 1841, Hist. Brit. Starfishes, p. 83. 
Locality.—“ Knight Errant” Expedition : 
Station 3. Off the Island of North Rona. August 3 and 4,1880. Lat. 59° 12’ N., 
long. 5° 57’ W. Depth 53 fathoms. 
Remarks.—One of the examples (a large specimen) obtained at this station is remark- 
able for the elongation and attenuation of the rays, and for the comparative paucity and 
smallness of the abactinal spinelets. These are minute, conical, and almost hidden in the 
membrane. The margin of the abactinal area is bounded by a regular and prominent line 
of spinelets, and the median radial line is also more or less regular. The other spinelets 
are quite irrecular in disposition, and though moderately numerous, are inconspicuous in 
consequence of their small size. The sides of the rays are deeper and more perpendicular 
than usual, The lateral spines, borne on the infero-marginal plates, are two or three in 
number, and are placed obliquely. No spines are present on the sides of the ray between 
these spines and the supero-marginal series, and there are no spines between the infero- 
marginal series and the adambulacral spines. orficiform pedicellariz are very numerous 
on the adambulacral spines, especially on the inner portion of the furrow, also on the sides 
of the ray. They are smaller and less numerous on the abactinal area. Forcipiform pedi- 
cellarize are comparatively scanty, a few occurring at the base of the supero-marginal 
spines and a greater number at the base of the lateral or infero-marginal spines; and a few 
are irregularly distributed over the abactingl area. This specimen in some respects simu- 
lates the habit of Asterias glacialis in a striking manner. Other examples dredged at 
the same locality are quite normal in character and appearance. 
7. Asterias versicolor, n. sp. (Pl. CIV. figs. 1-4). 
Rays five. R= 71mm.;7r=19mm. R<4~r. Breadth of a ray near the base, 
22 mm. 
Rays well produced, broad, slightly constricted laterally at the base, tapering gradually 
to a pointed extremity, subdepressed, abactinal surface convex, actinal surface more or less 
flat, margin angular. Interbrachial ares acute. Disk well developed, convex. 
The abactinal area is covered with moderately robust plates which form a subregular, 
rather widely meshed network. Upon the plates are borne widely spaced, isolated, short 
spinelets. A median radial series is more or less clearly indicated, but is rarely continuous 
or regular, and two intermediate irregular series are present on each side between the 
median radial line and the marginal series of plates. The spines, which are robust and 
truncate, often channelled near the tip, and sometimes slightly crenulate and denticulate, 
occupy the centre of a low but rather broad and slightly convex boss; at the base of the 
