56 



Leptasterias tenera (Stimpson). 



Asterias tenera, Stimpson (1862). 



Asterias (Leptasterias ) tenera, Verrill (1S66). 



Leptasterias tenei-a, Verrill (1874). 



" Cape Cod to Newfoundland." Common in Massachusetts Bay and the 

 Bay of Fundy, in 10 to 40 fathoms. "This is very closely allied to L. 

 compta, of which it may be only a poorly nourished slender variety " 

 (Verrill, 1895). 



Leptasterias Grcenlandica (Lutken). 



Asteracanthion Grfenlandicus, Lutken (1857). 

 Asterias Groenlandica, Verrill (1866). 

 Leptasterias Gnenlandica, Verrill (1879). 



A single specimen of this species was dredged in 15 fathoms, rocky bottom, 

 off Ellis Bay, Anticosti, by the Anticosti expedition in 1861. Since then 

 specimens which are probably referable to this species have been dredged at 

 many localities in the Gulf and mouth of the River St. Lawrence by Sir J. 

 W. Dawson and the writer. Verrill says that it has been taken on the 

 fishing banks off Nova Scotia and in the Bay of Fundy, in from 5 to 100 

 fathoms, as well as in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and that it is " strictly 

 northei'n." Pi'ofessor Ganong, in his paper on the " Eshinodermata of New 

 Brunswick " (published in Bulletin No. 7 of the Natural History Society 

 of that province) includes Stimpson's Asteracanthion Mulleri among the 

 synonyms of this species. In this connection. Prof. Verrill says that, besides 

 L. compta, L. tenera, L. Grcenlandica, L. hispidella and L. littoralis, "there 

 are other forms on our northern coast that may be distinct, but need much 

 study. Some of these have hitherto been referred to L. Mulleri and to L. 

 Stimpsoni'' {YervWl, 1866).* 



Leptasterias littoralis (Stimpson). 



Asteracanthion littoralis, Stimpson (1853). 

 Asterias littoralis, Verrill (1866). 

 Leptasterias littoralis, Verrill (1883). 



Grand Manan, " very common among the fuci in the middle region of the 

 littoral zone or even near high-water mark, elsewhere I have never found 

 it" (Stimpson) ; " Eastport and Grand Manan, abundant from half tide to 

 low-water mark, among rocks and fuci" (Verrill). Fishing banks off Nova 

 Scotia (Verrill). Gulf of St. Lawrence, Whiteaves (Verrill). Dead Island, 

 near Square Island, Labrador, in 1 to 5 fathoms, several specimens, Stearns 

 expedition (Miss Bush). Port Burwell, Cape Chudleigh (Bell). Casco Bay, 

 Me., to Cumberland Gulf, in to 23 fathoms. "Very closely allied to L. 

 Grcenlandica" (Verrill, 1895). 



* American Journal of Science and Arts, March, 1805, Third Series, vol. XLix., p. 211. 



