44 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. ii5 



salinity where it occurs in greatest abundance, at least in eastern 

 North America. 



Leptasterias groenlandica (Steenstrup) 



Asteracanthion groenlandicus Steenstrup, 1857, p. 228. 



Leptasterias groenlandica (Lutkin). — Fisher, 1930, pp. 45-47, pis. 8 (figs. 1-3), 

 21-23, 24 (figs. 1, 2). 



Collected at 9 stations; 9 to 225 m.; mud, sand, rock; 1949: BD28 

 (17 specimens), BD30 (1), Cartwright (1) ; 1950: BLD3 (5), BLD5 (2), 

 BLD8 (?1), BLDll (2); 1951: BLD4 (1); 1952: 1-16 (1). 



Diameter range is from (?10) 20 to 110 mm., R:r from 3.1:1 to 

 5.8:1. The majority at least appear to be of the form groenlandica 

 (Steenstrup). Distinction between the forms groenlandica and 

 cribraria (wStimpson) is frequently not clear in individual specimens, 

 and generally is not indicated in publications. Range of the 2 forms, 

 therefore, is not known in detail. It is possibly significant, however, 

 that the majority of specimens reported by Grainger (1955) from the 

 eastern Arctic area immediately to the north of Labrador were called 

 cribraria. 



One small individual of diameter 10 mm., E,:r 5.5:1 could not be 

 identified with certainty. Another specimen of diameter 41 mm., 

 R:r 3.5:1 (station BLD4, July 29, 1951), enclosed 62 young stars 

 beneath its rays held in the brooding position. 



The species was collected at stations along the whole length of the 

 Labrador coast (fig. 1), including 2 stations just within Lake Melville. 

 It was found (fig. 2) over a wide temperature range (less than —1° 

 to 4° C.) and a fairly wide salinity range (about 25%© to 33%o). 

 It is a circumpolar species of Arctic and Subarctic waters. 



Leptasterias polaris (Miiller and Troschel) 



Asteracanthion polaris Miiller and Troschel, 1842, p. 16. 



Leptasterias polaris (Miiller and Troschel). — Fisher, 1930, p. 60, pis. 30 (figs. 1, 2), 

 32 (fig. 3), 35. 



Collected at 10 stations; intertidal zone to 110 m.; rock, pebble 

 sand, mud; 1949: BD24/37 (1 specimen), BD31/32 (1), Forteau Bay 

 (1), Packs Harbour (1), Cartwright (3); 1951: BLD4 (1), BLDlO 

 (l),BLDl9/39 (1),BLD35 (1),BLD36 (1). 



Diameters are from 25 to 270 mm., R:r from 3.7:1 to 5.2:1. Spec- 

 imens were taken from Hebron to the Strait of Belle Isle (fig. 1), 

 under temperature and salinity conditions similar to those of L. 

 groenlandica (fig. 2). The species was not taken within Lake Mel- 

 ville but was found immediately outside. An inhabitant of Arctic 

 and Subarctic waters, it is reported (in its various subspecific forms) 

 from the New Siberian Islands eastward only to West Greenland. 



