60 ASTEEOIDEA. 



conical ; the central portion is always free of cirrus -sockets. It 

 does not hide the radials, the second of which varies somewhat in 

 form but may be said to be generally wider than long, with an in- 

 cision of varying depth along its distal edge ; the depth of the 

 incision varies with the form of the axillary, which may have three, 

 four, or five sides. 



Ten fairly stout arms, the first brachial inconstant in form but 

 always much smaller than the second, the third a syzygy ; the next 

 four more oblong, with a backwardly directed process alternately on 

 the inner and outer sides ; the ninth a syzygy ; the succeeding 

 joints triangular, with frequent syzygies; then squarer, then longer 

 than broad. 



The first two pinnules long and subequal, of thirty joints or more, 

 the basal quite short, the rest a good deal elongated; the succeeding 

 pinnules are shorter and their joints longer, except at the base. 

 Disk naked. 



Colour in life said to be green, rather pale brown in spirit, white 

 when dried. 



Measurements. All the specimens from the British area are so 

 injured in one way or another, that a table of comparative measure- 

 ments would only be misleading; the arms are about 150 mm. long, 

 the cirri are of very various lengths (up to about 4U mm.), the disk 

 5 to 7 mm. across ; the two first pinnules are about 10 mm. long. 



Distribution. Mediterranean ; Eastern side of North Atlantic, as 

 far out as Madeira, and as far north as the Hebrides. Shallow 

 water to 700 fms. 



a-i. The Minch. ' Porcupine ' Exp. 



j. Skye, 25 to 40 fms. [Type of Comatula woodwardi 



(C. celtica), Barrett.] 

 k. S.W. Ireland, 250 fms. ' Flying Fox ' Exp. 



ASTEROIDEA (see p. 18). 

 ARCHASTERID^E {see p. 19). 

 PABARCHASTEBIN^E (see p. 19). 



P0NTASTER. 



Pontaster, Sladen, Chall. Nar. i. (1885) p. 610 ; id. Chall. Rep. Ast. 

 (1889) p. 23. 



A Pararchasterine with small disk and long tapering rays. 



1. Pontaster tenuispinis. 



Astropecten tenuispinus, Dub. $■ Ear. Vet.-Aknd. Hdlg. 1844 (1846). 



p. 251, pi. viii. figs. 20-22; Duj. fy Hup. Echin. (1862) p. 419. 

 Archaster tenuispinus, Sars, Norg. Ech. (1861) p. 38, pi. 3. figs. 5-7; 



