Narrative of Bahama Expedition. 8i 



genus seems to exhibit nearly all of the characters of an 

 astrophyton except the branching arms, and is probably nearer 

 that genus than any other specimen secured by us. Neither 

 of our two species can be referred to Astrogonifhtis vallatiis. 

 They may be briefly diagnosed as follows: 



(a) Radial ridges broader than in A. vallatiis; spiniform 

 mouth-papilku much smaller. The ventral surface is not 

 smooth, but bears a number of regularly but sparsely distrib- 

 uted granular nodules. There is no '■ fence of pickets " sepa- 

 rating the mouth region from the interbrachial spaces. Color 

 in alcohol almost white. 



(b) Radial ridges not continuing to near center of disk, 

 and apparently five instead of ten in number, owing to the 

 fact that each pair of radial plates is soldered together by their 

 apposed faces, forming one broad elevated ridge instead of 

 two, as in other species. The ridges on disk and arm bases 

 resemble those of Astrooi/'da isid/'s. Spines on radial ridges 

 smaller than in Astrogoiiiphiis rallatiis, and the mouth parts 

 much as in the latter species. The ventral surface is crowded 

 with spiny granules, but there is no " fence of pickets." 



It is seldom that such an array of species of simple armed 

 AsTROPiiYTiD.^ is found in any one locality. Most of these 

 forms appear to be new. and are certainly well worthy of care- 

 ful study. 



Among the great number of typical serpent-stars our space 

 will admit of but the briefest mention of a few. Ophiothyrcus 

 gocsi is a short-armed species having the disk covered with 

 swollen plates. The first upper arm-plate is split in two and 

 interposed between the radial shields. Each half of the split 

 arm-plate bears on its outer side a row of minute scales re- 

 sembling genital scales. Ophiopcvpcdc go'esiaiia is a daintilv 

 marked slender-armed species, with divided under arm-plates 

 and prominent radial shields. Disk brown, conspicuoush' 

 spotted with white. 



A very conspicuous species is an Ophiocautha ('?), with a 

 disk colored light brown, with five broad radiating bands of 

 pure white and long glassy spines. There are few more 



