520 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, [18] 
The small disk and the basal, slightly swollen portion of the arms are 
covered with small sharp spinules, arranged in small clusters or stand- 
ing singly, but not forming definite transverse groups on the basal part 
ofthe arms. The marginal spines are long and very slender, and mostly 
stand ina single row. The other (B. costata V.) is a coarser species, 
which usually comes up broken into numerous fragments, by sponta- 
neous division. In this species the spinules and pedicellarie form large 
and prominent transverse ridges or ribs on the swollen basal part of the 
arms, as well as on the distal portion. It resembles the B. coronata Sars, 
in general appearance. It was taken during the last two seasons in 
991 to 2,021 fathoms. 
The curious little pentagonal star-fish, described by Wyville Thomson 
(Voyage of the “ Challenger,” p. 378, Figs. 97, 98), as Porcellanaster ceru- 
leus (figs. 40, 41), was taken in considerable numbers at many localities, 
in 1883 and 1884, in 816 to 1,917 fathoms. Its ccrulean color is due 
only to the bluish mud, with which its large stomach is usually filled, 
showing through the translucent integument. The real color is buff or 
pale salmon. 
Among the large and showy forms of star-fishes is a new species of 
Solaster (S. abyssicola V.), which is bright red or orange in color, and 
often becomes over a foot in diameter. It has a broad disk and usually 
eight or nine arms. It has rather small rounded clusters of spinules on 
moderately elevated paxillz, both above and beneath. The spinulation 
is coarser and the paxille larger, more elevated, and less crowded than 
in S. endeca, of the shallow waters. 
The Ophiurans were abundantly represented by many species, some 
of which were previously undescribed and others unknown from this 
region. Several of them are of large size and conspicuous. Among 
these one of the largest and most abundant was Ophiomusium Lymani, 
of which many hundreds or even thousands were often taken in a single 
haul in 900 to 1,100 fathoms. It has occurred at many localities in 238 
to 2,033 fathoms. Another almost equally large species of the same 
genus (0. armigerum Lym.) also occurred abundantly at several stations 
in 1,731 to 2,369 fathoms. A handsome species, remarkable for its large 
and distinct, symmetrically arranged dorsal scales (Ophioglypha bullata), 
has been taken in considerable numbers in 1,608 to 2,574 fathoms. A 
smaller flattened species (0. lepida Lym.) occurred in vast numbers at 
several stations, both in 1883 and 1884. It seems to be very abundant 
at about 1,500 fathoms, and is widely diffused in 428 to 2,574 fathoms. 
Our perfect specimens generally, if not: always, have small, slender 
spinules scattered over the disk, which was not the case with the orig- 
inal types described by Lyman. The spinules are easily rubbed off. 
A large species of Ophiochiton (O. grandis V.) was taken in 888 fathoms. 
This genus had not been taken before in this part of the Atlantic. 
Numerous species of Ophiacantha, which is a very common and charac- 
teristic deep-water genus, were taken, among which were several that 
