1894. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 255 



bulacral spines also ^\we a very different cliaracter to the inferior 

 surface. 



Family A s T K o p E v t i n i d m (Gray, 1840) emended. 



ASTROPECTEN AMERICANUS, \' c i r 1 1 1 . 



Archaster americauus, Yerkill, Ainer. .loiirn. Science, xx p. 402, 1880. 



This abundant species appears to be a true Astropecten, although a 

 dorsal pore is visible. It has well-develoijed superambulacral jilates. 

 It is more nearly allied to the East Atlantic species, A. mesaetus, than 

 to any other species described by Sladen. It differs from that species 

 in having longer arms and a much smaller disk ; in having longer and 

 more slender marginal spines, and of these usually but two, sometimes 

 three, on each of the inferior row of plates, instead of four or five; in 

 the uumerous long, slender spinules of the rest of the surface of the 

 inferior marginal plates; in the long, slender spinules of the dorsal 

 paxilliP., and in the longer and more numerous adambulacral sjiines, 



LEPTOPTYCHASTER ARCTICU8, Sladoi. 



Leploptjiehasler arcticus, Sladen, op. cit., p. 189. 



A.'itropeclen arcticus, M. Saus, Reise. Lofodoii and Finniarkcn. Nyt. Mag. Nat.. 



VI, p. 161, 1851. 

 Arcliaster arcticus, Vehhill, Auier. Journ. Science, \\\, p. 214, 1878 

 Leptoptychaster nrcticui, var. elongatus, Sladen, oj). cit., p. 189. 



Our series of specimens show various gradations in the relative length 

 of the rays, some of them agreeing in this and other respects with the 

 form described as a variety by Sladen. His variety was taken off New 

 Jersey, in 1,350 fathoms. I am unable to make out any detinite diag- 

 nostic characters for this form. 



This species has been taken at many stations off our coast, in 50 to 

 547 fathoms, but always in small numbers. 



PSILASTEK FLOR.E, Verrill. 



Archaster flora-, Verriil, Amor. .Tonru. Science, vol, 16, p 372, 1878. Rep. 

 U. S. Com'r Fish and Fisheries, \i, ]). 542, pi. 13, fig 36, 1885 



This species clearly belongs to the genus Psilaster, as defined by 

 Sladen. It is closely allied to P. ainh-omeda, of Northern Europe, and 

 may eventually prove to be only a variety of that spe<'ies. 



It approaches nearest to those specimens of the latter, mentioned by 

 Sladen, having broad superior marginal plates and well developed 

 spines in a submarginal row on the lower series. Some of the larger 

 examj)les have a single, enlarged, acute spiuule, like those of the lower 

 series, on some of the superior marginal plates. 



This species has been taken at numerous stations by the U. S. Fish 

 Commission in 72 to 084 fathoms. 



A considerable number have also been received from the Gloucester 



