i66 Natural History Buli.etin. 



very large, but many were of unusual beauty. Several spe- 

 cies of Aslropectcii were secured. One was a rather small 

 species with a series of spines on the supero-marginal plates 

 and several closely crowded rows on the infero-marginals. 

 The abactinal surface was cov^ered with paxillae, with their 

 beautiful radiating spinelets. resembling the spokes of a steer- 

 ing-wheel. Another Astropcctcii was about as large as the 

 last, but had very few spines on the supero-marginal plates, 

 and four verv small lateral spines set in an oblique series on 

 the infero-marginals. The paxilla* were crowned with a dense 

 cluster of partially coalesced vertical spinelets. This species 

 came from a depth of one hundred and ten fathoms. The 

 interesting genus I^uidia is represented by L. alteniata (Sav). 

 a large, slender-rayed form bristling with long, marginal 

 spines, which are chocolate brown basally and pure white 

 distally. The paxilla? have each a stout, vertical spine set in 

 its centre. The two lateral rows of paxilla^ are without this 

 spine. Quite small specimens are white throughout in alcohol, 

 while larger individuals have the spines colored as in the 

 adult, but the disk white, as in the voung. Other specimens, 

 possiblv of a distinct species, have all the paxillaj bearing 

 comparatively short, blunt spines. Like others of the genus, 

 these specimens exhibited an aggravating tendency to shed 

 their rays, so that a really complete specimen is hard to find. 

 The}' came from shallow water near Key West. 



The family Gvmnastk:riid,e is represented bv Poroiiia sp.. 

 a small pentagonal form with the lower inter-radial spaces 

 nearly bare, there being only a few isolated spines on the 

 smootli plates. '1 he marginal plates bear a very beautiful 

 ornamentation in the shape of two series of fan-shaped tufts 

 of spines, giving very much the appearance of the peculiar 

 scallops resulting from the use of the old-fashioned pinking- 

 iron on cloth. There are two series of interambulacral 

 spines. The single specimen of this pretty star-hsh came 

 from a depth of about one hundred and ten fathoms. A spe- 

 cies which I take to be an Aiilhciioidcs has gracefully tapering 

 arms and very conspicuous marginal plates, the upper series 



