SHALLOW-WATER STARFISHES l6l 



The ventral ossicles are stout and tesselated; in size, shape, and 

 number very nearly as in the typical form. The adambulacral spines 

 are longer and more slender than in the type, especially toward the 

 mouth, where they increase more in length, some of the adorals 

 becoming 6 mm. to 7 mm. long. They are mostly alternately one 

 and two to a plate. The apical peroral spines are stout and blunt, 

 rather long. The dermal major pedicellariae are nearly as in the 

 type, but some are larger and stouter. There are few on the dorsal 

 surface. 



This large and peculiar variety might well be thought a distinct 

 species, had there not been specimens more or less intermediate in 

 the collections from Victoria and the Queen Charlotte Islands. It may 

 be that it is the condition commonly assumed when grown to unusual 

 size. 



In form, size and general appearance this variety resembles 

 E. acanthostoma, but the dorsal spines of the latter are much 

 smaller and more acute, and form conspicuous transverse combs. 



Victoria and Esquimault Harbor (Prov. Mus. B. C, collected by 

 Dr. C. F. Newcombe) ; Queen Charlotte Islands (Canadian Geolog- 

 ical Survey). 



EVASTERIAS TROSCHELII Var. DENSA Verrill, nov. 



One young specimen (g) from Victoria, British Columbia, is 

 peculiar in having the dorsal spines all nearly uniform in size and 

 form, all being capitate and arranged in a rather close reticulate 

 pattern, the spines standing in single rows and nearly in contact on 

 the reticulating ossicles. Proximally they often form short trans- 

 verse rows on the sides of the rays, but distally they are rather uni- 

 formly crowded and not acervate, nor is there any distinct median 

 radial row, nor any larger primary spines elsewhere. 



The reticulations are much smaller, more transverse, and closer 

 than in the typical form; this, and the absence of pedicellariae in 

 clusters around the large spines, give it a very different appearance, 

 approaching that of the large specimen of E. acanthostoma, in this 

 respect. 



There are five regular rows of convex, imbricated, ventral ossicles 

 proximally, many of which bear two spines, which are crowded and 

 much like those of the larger form, but rather more slender and less 

 obtuse. 



Radii, 13 mm. and 78 mm. ; ratio, i : 6. 



Near Victoria, British Columbia (Prov. Mus. B. C.). 

 12 



