ASTROPECTEN. 67 



Asterias aranciaca, O. F. Mull, (non Linn.) Prod. Zool. Dan. (1776) 



p. 234, no. 2831 ; id. Zool. Ban. iii. (1789) p. 3, pi. lxxxiii. ; Flem. 



Brit. An. (1828) p. 486; Johnston, Loudon's Mag. Nat. Hist. ix. 



(1836) p. 298, fig. 43. 

 Asterias aurantiaca, Forbes, Mem. Wern. Soc. viii. (1839) p. 118 ; id. 



Brit. Starf. (1840) p. 130 ; Thompson, Nat. Hist. Irel. iv. (1856) 



p. 440. 

 Astropecten miilleri, M. Tr. Arch. f. Nat. x. (1844) p. 181 ; Dili. 8f 



Nor. Vet.-Akad. Hdlq. 1844 (1846) p. 246; Sars, Norg. Ech. 



(1861) p. 28: Pen: 'Ann. Sci. Nat. xii. (1809) p. 297; Mob. § 



Butschli, JB. Comm. Kiel, ii. & iii. (1875) p. 146. 

 Astropecten echinulata. M. Tr. Arch./. Nat. x. (1844) p. 181. 

 Astropecten acicularis, Norm. Ann. $ Mag. xv. (I860) p. 116. 



R = 3r to 4-5/-. 



Flat ; arms well marked off from disk, tapering regularly and rather 

 rapidly to an obtuse end. Ambulacral groove wide, bordered by three 

 rows of spines, flattened and blunt at their tips, stronger without than 

 within. The plates on the ventral surface are thickly covered with 

 short, blunt, stout spinules, among which (especially near the angle 

 of the mouth) a few longer and sharper spines may be scattered. 

 At the sides the inferomarginal plates, which project somewhat 

 beyond the superomarginals, bear a single row of long outwardly 

 and upwardly curved spines ; the superomarginals, which are moro 

 than twice as long vertically as they are horizontally, are closely 

 covered with spinous granules, which on the extreme upper edge 

 become developed into one, two, or three short conical spines. The 

 paxiliae on the upper surface small, in numerous regular rows. A 

 prominent central ossicle. Madreporite rather large, distinct, near 

 margin. 



The number of marginal plates varies with the length of the 

 arms ; a specimen of moderate length (5 to 6 inches) has about 40 

 on either side of each arm. 



Colour very variable, from light red to yellow, with or without 

 purple marks ; in spirit, light or dark yellow ; dry, darkish brown to 

 light yellow above, rather lighter below. 



Width of arm 

 It. r. at base. 



92 21 20 



79 17 18-5 



61 1 5 15 



49 15 15 



42 12 10-5 



15 5 5-5 



Distribution. Eastern side of Atlantic from Xorway to Liberia ; 

 Mediterranean. 10-1000 fms. 



a e. East of the Shetland Islands, 64-75 ' Porcupine ' Exp. (Sts. 67 



fins. & 68). 



/. Between Scotland and Faeroe Banks, ' Porcupine ' Exp. (St. 46). 



374 fms. 



a. Avrshire. Prof. E. Forbes. 



h. N.W. of Achill Head, 183 fms. < Porcupine ' Exp. (St. 18). 



f2 



