212 VERRILL 



Moreover, as used by Agassiz, 1835, it was a synonym of Linckia, 

 and if the latter name be retained, it must be rejected on that 

 account also. 



In the system of Agassiz, 1835, this genus would have been 

 included under Stellonia Ag. ; together with Echinaster^ Solaster, 

 Heliaster, Asterias, etc. 



This genus is remarkably well represented on the North Pacific 

 coast. Professor Fisher (1911&) has described numerous species 

 and named varieties or subspecies from the Northwest coast, as well 

 as various additional minor varietal forms, not named. 



The genus is a very difficult one and the number of forms on the 

 Northwest coast is surprisingly great, as compared with those of the 

 North Atlantic, where but one species is usually recognized 

 {H. sanguinolenta), at least on the American side.^ 



The latter, from our coast, though variable to a considerable extent 

 in form and spinulation, presents no such extensive variations as it 

 and other species show on the Pacific side. I have personally 

 examined more than ten thousand specimens of the Atlantic san- 

 guinolenta, from a great variety of localities, and at least several 

 hundreds of the allied North Pacific forms, and can speak with confi- 

 dence as to the far greater variations of the latter. 



To determine just how many of the North Pacific forms are 

 really " species," or even reliable subspecies or varieties, is not pos- 

 sible, at present. Perhaps it never will be possible, though much 

 nearer approaches to the solution of the problem may be made here- 

 after, aided by more studies of the forms in life, and by far more 

 extensive collections. 



Professor Fisher thinks, as I have long believed, that many of 

 the puzzling forms are mere hybrids between a few associated 

 species. If so, some of the hybrids may, by isolation, etc., have 

 formed more or less fixed local varieties, or even real species, in 

 modern times, while others may be, at present, mere sporadic or 

 individual cases. Much larger collections, from wider areas, might 



*Many years ago (op. cit, 1894), I gave a full description of H. pectinata, 

 a supposed second species from New England. Later I reduced it to a 

 variety of H. sanguinolenta. Yet Dr. Fisher quotes it (19116, p. 10) as a 

 " nomen nudum." The same form occurs in Bering Sea. See below, and pi. 

 XLix, figs. I, 10. Another form (//. eschrichtii Miiller and Troschel) was for- 

 merly described (1842) from Greenland, but it has almost invariably been con- 

 sidered, and as I believe correctly, a slight variation of typical sanguinolenta. 

 Dr. Fi.sher has applied the name to what I consider entirely different forms, 

 from the North Pacific. 



