CLARK: THE ECHINODERMS OF PERU. 329 



sand undisturbed, Such habits indicate unusual activity for an echinoderm and 

 deserve detailed and very careful observation and study. 



Astropecten peruvianus. 

 A. E. Verrill, 1867. Trans. Conn. Acad., 1, p. 275. 



This species is very similar to erinaceus in size and general appearance. Ver- 

 rill does not refer to the color and, unfortunately, neither do Coker's field notes. 

 The dry specimens are dull yellow above and nearly white beneath, with the madre- 

 poric plate orange. Verrill's specimens and Coker's also are from Payta, so there 

 is no clue as to the range of the species. Coker took a dozen specimens "with 

 boat-beam trawl, southeast of Caleta, Colon, Bay of Payta, 7-8 fms., soft mud, 

 April 13," 1907. Though occurring in so much deeper water than erinaceus, 

 there is no reason for expecting any difference in the habits of these species. I 

 fully agree with Verrill that it is impossible to determine whether Gray's stellatus 

 is this species or not. 



Astropecten fragilis. 

 A. E. Verrill, 1867. Trans. Conn. Acad., 1, p. 272. 



So far as I can learn this species has not been recorded since the original de- 

 scription was published. Verrill says nothing of the coloration, but gives the 

 following measurements : R - 58 mm., r = 12.5 mm. ; breadth of ray at base, 

 15 mm. (the measurements are given by Verrill in inches and tenths). The only 

 known specimens are from Panama and Zorritos, Peru. 



Luidia phragma, sp. nov. 1 



Plate 2, figure 1. 



Rays 5. R = 73 mm., r = 12 mm., R = 6r. Interbrachial arcs acute. Rays 

 very flat, tapering gradually to a point. Breadth at base, 14 mm. Disc moderate, 

 flat ; vertical diameter only about 7 mm. Paxillae of disc and median portion of 

 rays small (.5-1 mm. in diameter of tabulae), irregularly circular, becoming 

 squarish at sides of rays. Each paxilla has a dozen or more very slender, margi- 

 nal spines, above which are half a dozen or more stouter ones, while the center of 

 the tabula is occupied by 1-4 short, thick, blunt spinelets. Along eacli side of 

 the ray are three longitudinal series of larger paxillae (1-1.25 mm. across), similar 

 to the others, but more nearly rectangular. Innermost of these three rows, very 

 conspicuous, each paxilla carrying, at center of tabula, a single, slender, sharp 

 spine, 2-3 mm. long. These conspicuous spines form a fence or "palisade" 

 along each side of ray about three millimeters from inferomarginal edge. Infe.ro- 

 marginal plates, with similar, though slightly larger spines ; there are two to each 

 plate, one above the other ; the marginal fringe is thus very conspicuous. Seen 



1 <t>pdyij.a, a palisade, in reference to the palisade-like series of spines along the 

 sides of the rays. - ^ 



