WEST INDIAN STARFISHES 187 



long as inner ones, but usually replaced by a large three-valved 

 to five-valved pedicellaria, with spatulate valves. These often 

 form a regular and continuous series. 



This variety differs from the typical form mainly by having a 

 smaller disk and more slender rays, and more slender spines and 

 spinules, and its adambulacral pedicellariae are larger and more 

 fully developed than in the type-form. 



Taken in the Caribbean Sea, off the northern coast of Colom- 

 bia, in 155 fathoms. Albatross station 2143, No. 18,464. 



ASTROPECTEN CILIATUS Grubo. 



Astropectcn cUiatus Grube, Archiv. fur Naturgeschichte, vol. xxiii, p. 340, 

 1857. 



According to the brief diagnosis of Grube, this species belongs 

 to the group of species which have a cluster of six to eight or 

 more spines on the actinal face of the adambulacral plates. He 

 mentioned no superomarginal spines. These points would make 

 it seem related to A. americanus and A. nitidits, but otherwise it 

 does not appear to agree with either of those species. 



The type was 4,5 inches (about 108""") in diameter; ratios of 

 the radii, 1 :4.5 ; superomarginal plates, 45 ; inferomarginals, 42. 



The superomarginal plates are evenly granulated. The infero- 

 marginals have two large, equal, flattened spines with three 

 shorter ones below them. 



The adambulacral plates have three furrow-spines and about 

 eight on the actinal face, of which one is longer, 



Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, 



Doubtful species of Astropecten. 

 Astropecteii spatuliger Perrier, 



Revision, p, 296, 1876, 



Said to be from Nicaragua, but whether Atlantic or Pacific is 

 not stated. It is much like some Pacific coast species, with broad 

 rays and flat spines. 



Genus Blakiaster Perrier, 



Blakiaster Perrier, op. cit., 1881, p. 28; op. cit., p. 265, 1884; op. cit., p. 

 242, 1894. Type, B. conicus Per. Verrill, Eevision Genera, p. 218, 

 1899. Fisher, The Genus Blakiaster, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. Kv, 

 No. 4, p. 161, pi. 1, 1911; also, op. cit., 1911b, p. 40. Verrill, op. cit., 

 1914a, p. 322, 



