i68 Xaturai. History Bulletin. 



perhaps, was a little six-rayed species with rays unsvmmet- 

 rically developed, giving the appearance of immature speci- 

 mens. The largest was not over three-fourths of an inch 

 in diameter. There were two rows of interambulacral spines. 

 The most beautiful of all was a species closelv related to 

 Astcn'as vohcllata Sladen. which was discovered bv the 

 '•Challenger ■' near the coast of Japan. Our specimens were 

 small, the largest being about two and one-half inches in 

 diameter. This superbly ornamented star-fish has eleven arms 

 which are very slender and abruptlv differentiated from the 

 disk, reminding one of the serpent-stars. Each ray has two 

 lateral and a dorsal series of long, stout spines, and around the 

 middle of each spine is packed a globular cluster of pedicel- 

 lariat, as if a white bead were strung on each spine, giving 

 an exceedinglv elegant and graceful style of ornamentation. 

 Another row of these spines, likewise ornamented with the 

 globular clusters of pedicellarice, is placed between the dorsal 

 and lateral rows on each arm. The dorsal surface bears a 

 large number of dermal tentacles. The interambulacral 

 plates bear two series of long spines. The ambulacral feet 

 are large and greatly protruded in our specimens. One 

 individual had twelve instead of eleven arms, and another had 

 lost nine out -of its eleven, but had evidently not given up the 

 fight, as nine new arms were sprouting in their proper places 

 around the disk. Another specimen, perhaps representing a 

 separate species, had but ten arms and each globular bundle 

 of pedicellarice was borne on the summit of a spine, giving an 

 exceedinglv elegant effect. Indeed this particular specimen 

 is the most beautiful star-fish that we secured during the trip. 

 Another Aster ias belonging, as did the last, to the sub-genus 

 Stolasterias. has but five rays. The spines are ornamented 

 with the little globular bundles of pedicellaria?. There is a 

 well marked median dorsal row of spines, two lateral rows 

 and two between the dorsal and lateral rows. On the ventral 

 surface there are two rows of interambulacral spines pointing 

 at right angles to each other. Next there is a row of simple 

 spines without pedicellarife, and then comes the lateral row 



