M. E. Perrier 07i yieio Species ofAsteriidse. 3o 



Asterias rarispina. 



It differs from A. africana, M. & T., by the total absence of 

 spines between the median line of the rays and the lateral 

 spines. 



Hah. Cape of Good Hope ('/. MacGUlivray. voyage of 

 H.M.S. 'Herald'). 



Asterias Vancouver!. 



A species with six or seven rays, the ambulacral spines 

 forming two rows, after which come, first, a double row of 

 venti-al spines, then seven rows of groups of dorsal spines, 

 each group consisting of three or four spines. A single 

 madi-eporic plate. 



Hah. Esquimau Harbour, Vancouver Island. Collected 

 and presented to the British Museum by J. K. Lord, Esq. 



Asterias nuda. 



A species with five short rays, with the ossicles of the 

 skeleton robust, forming an in-egular network covered by a 

 thick naked skin. Ambulacral spines in two regular series ; 

 three incomplete rows of ventral spines — a median row on the 

 back of each ray, two lateral rows, one on each side ,• some 

 scattered spines on the middle region of the rays ; all the 

 spines are short, obtuse, and few in number. 



Hah. Torres Straits, Port Lincoln. 



There are two specimens of this species, presented by J. B. 

 Harvey, Esq. 



Asterias capensis. 



A small species, with five or six rays ; ambulacral spines 

 in two series ; a band of ventral spines placed in a double or 

 triple row, then follow seven rows of groups of two or three 

 short and blunt spines ; madreporic plates three. 



Hah. South Africa. Presented by Dr. Andrew Smith. 



Asterias sinusoida. 



Rays five. Ambulacral spines in two rows ; three simple 

 series of blunt ventral [spines ; rows of lateral spines, two or 

 three spines on each plate ; a central row of spines on the 

 rays, of which the other spines form an irregularly sinuous 

 line alternately touching the median and lateral lines of spines ; 

 all the spines are blunt, almost truncate. 



Hah. Van Diemen's Land, Sandy Bay, Hobart Town. 

 Presented by Dr. Sinclair, R.N. 



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