98 VERRILL 



larger disk and shorter rays. The latter also has more numerous 

 rows of actinal spines, while the dorsal spines are conical, numer- 

 ous, and evenly scattered. Nor does Perrier mention the large ser- 

 rate, lateral pedicellariae found on the latter. 1 Still it may prove to 

 be the young of P. giganteus, for we know very little about the 

 variations of the latter. 



I have seen no specimens agreeing well with the description given 

 by Perrier. 



PISASTER ? PAUCISPINUS (Stimpson) Verrill. 

 Plate xxxvi, figures i, 2 (types). 



Asterias paucispina STIMPSON, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. History, vm, p. 266, 

 1862. Perrier, op. cit., 1875, p. 324 (no description). Bell, op. cit., p. 495 

 (no description). 



This species is easily recognized by its rather angular rays, few 

 actinal and dorsal spines, and uniserial adambulacral spines. 

 Stimpson's description is as follows : 



" Rays five, high, trigonal above, rounded below ; disc rather large. 

 Proportion of the diameters, 1 : 4.75. Skin-skeleton less firm than 

 in the four preceding species, the net-work being more open. Ambu- 

 lacral pores in four regular rows. Ambulacral spines in one very 

 regular row, equal, not crowded, slightly compressed, and slightly 

 tapering, with blunt extremity. A considerable number of sharp, 

 appressed major pedicellariae, of variable size, may be seen on the 

 inter-ambulacral plates at the inner bases of the ambulacral spines, 

 together with a few small clusters of the minor kind. Ventral 

 spines of moderate size, cylindrical, tapering to a blunt tip not 

 striated, and arranged in three rows, or in about thirty transverse 

 rows of three each, the two outer ones placed together on each of 

 the ossicles of the single ventral [inferomarginal] series, and the 

 inner one on the transverse connective piece [actinal plate] which 

 passes to the marginal interambulacral plates. Each of these trans- 

 verse rows corresponds to five ambulacral spines. A small cluster 

 of minor pedicellarise at the outer base of each of the ventral spines, 

 most prominent in those of the outer row. Lateral channel distinct, 

 with a row of stout, narrow, wedge-shaped major pedicellariae, 

 extending from the base of the ray to the middle of its length. 

 Dorsal spines equalling the ventrals in size, less than one-twelfth 

 inch in height, and subcapitate, with conical, truncate, and striated 



1 If these were absent the species may not be closely related to the Pisaster 

 group, especially as there are few actinal rows of spines. 



