86 NATURAL HISTORY BULLETIN. 



yellow, with small and not very distinct spots of light brown 

 on the disk, and a double row of the same colored spots 

 along the upper side of the arms. There is considerable var- 

 iation in the number and form of the large disk-spines. The 

 larger specimens have from twelve to sixteen stout, conical 

 spines on each radial rib, in two irregular rows, but in some 

 cases these are regularly conical, in others sharply acuminate. 

 The spines of the central group are even more variable. In 

 most cases part of them are regularly conical, and part are 

 blunt or rounded at summit, while others may be acuminate. 

 In one example a considerable number of similar spines are 

 present in the interradial spaces of the disk, and some even 

 between the adjacent ribs. In some specimens these parts 

 are naked; in others, granulated with scattered round-topped 

 grains. The large dorsal spines of the arms are also variable 

 in number and fjrm, but are similar to those of the disk, but 

 smaller and usually less acute; between them there are coarse 

 round-topped granules, variable in size. The larger speci- 

 mens have three tentacle-scales at the base of the arms; the 

 smaller, two. 



Station 48, off Key West, 80 fathoms, 1 young; station 62, 

 off American Shoal, 80 fathoms, 1 young. Prof. Nutting re- 

 fers to it as "common" below 100 fathoms, but only two 

 specimens were sent to me. 



It was taken by the Blake Exp., off Florida, in 120 to 125 

 fathoms, and amongst the West Indies, in 2 18 to 288 fathoms. 



This species clings to gorgonians, of several kinds, which 

 it imitates in form of arms and color. 



