578 Verrlll, Noles on RacUata. 



Lepidaster teres Verriii, sp. nov. 



Rays five, long, round, slender, tapering ; disk small. Radii as 

 1 : G"3 The rays have three dorsal rows of overlajjping rhomboidal 

 plates, with the angles prolonged and sides concave ; two lateral rows 

 of similar plates on each side ; and a ventral row of much smaller 

 crowded plates, which are united directly to the interambulacral 

 plates, but are joined to the first lateral series by an interrupted row 

 of small squarish plates, between which there are rather large pores. 

 The interambulacral plates bear an outer series of small, round, trun- 

 cated spines, sometimes one to each plate, but usually only on alternate 

 plates ; and an inner series of very slender, small, subequal spines, 

 three to each plate, the middle one usually slightly longest. Each 

 corner of the mouth has a group of four, longer, sharp spines, the two 

 middle ones largest. Anal orifice central, surrounded by numerous 

 minute granules or papillae; madreporic plate rather large, circular, 

 concave, finely convoluted. Whole surface covered with a soft, thin 

 skin, which allows the plates to be seen distinctly. Color of the 

 dried specimen pale yellow. 



Radius of disk -30; of rays 1-90; diameter of rays at base -32; 

 length of outer interambulacral spines 06 ; diameter of larger dorsal 

 plates -10 to "12; of madreporic plate -11 of an inch. 



La Paz, — Capt. J. Pedersen. 



Heliaster Kubiniji Xantus, (p. 292). 



Three specimens of this species were sent from La Paz by Capt. 

 Pedersen. 



The two larger ones have 23 rays. The largest measures 4-15 

 inches from center to end of longest rays; to edge of disk 2*15; 

 length of rays 1-50 to 2 inches ; length of interambulacral spines -15 ; 

 of largest capitate dorsal spines -10 ; their greatest diameter -OG to "08. 

 The smallest specimen has 21 rays ; its greatest radius is 2-50 inches; 

 of disk 1-25. 



Tlie larger specimens have a median dorsal row of large capitate 

 spines on all the rays, which, Avith a marginal row of smaller, more 

 blunt spines on each side, extend inward to the central area of the 

 disk ; between the dorsal and lateral rows, on the middle of the rays, 

 there are, on each side, one or two less regular rows of capitate spines, 

 some of which often extend inward, more or less, on the disk. 



On the upper side, especially near the end, the rays ai-e thickly 

 covered with small oval pedicellarige, mixed with other very minute 

 ones of similar form. 



