XU PREFACE 



In the meantime, Prof. W. K. Fisher, of Stanford University, 

 has published (1911 b) an extensive work on some of the orders of 

 starfishes of the North Pacific, including not only very many deep- 

 u^ater species, but also considerable numbers from the shallow waters 

 of the same regions, covered by my report, and including many of 

 the species previously described and figured by me, in this work. 



He had the advantage of having studied my specimens, manu- 

 scripts and plates several years ago, while visiting me at the Yale 

 Museum. Yet in some cases our conclusions are somewhat 

 divergent. 



I have not seen his types, nor have I been able to devote so much 

 time as I would like to the correlation of his species of certain 

 difficult genera, like Solaster and Henricia, with my own. But I trust 

 that the figures and descriptions given in both works will enable 

 future students to understand what the forms discussed really are, 

 regardless of the names. 



For the numerous excellent drawings of miscroscopic details and 

 for nearly all the photographs, I am indebted to the careful work of 

 my son, Mr. A. Hyatt Verrill, who has devoted much time to the 

 work during several years. 



Addison Emery Verrill. 



New Haven, Conn., July, 1912. 



