SHALLOW-WATER STARFISHES 26$ 



spinules. Alternating irregularly with these are many small oblong 

 and rounded plates, similarly granulated. Everywhere in the 

 depressed areas between the larger plates there are many lower and 

 much smaller ossicles, unequal in size and form, bearing small 

 clusters of small granules. The larger plates form pretty regular 

 radial rows medially on the rays, and oblique ones on their sides. 



Toward the margin, the crescent-shaped plates become smaller and 

 shorter, and near the margin of the disk all become rounded or 

 elliptical, with a rosette of granules; while on the sides of the rays, 

 distally, they become elliptical and oblong, closely spinulated. 



The marginal edge is formed by the two regular rows of mar- 

 ginal plates, which are only a little larger than the adjacent dorsals, 

 and transversely elliptical in form, as seen covered with a wreath of 

 spinules, slightly longer than those of the dorsals. The lower mar- 

 ginals are slightly the larger. The rows are separated by a narrow 

 but well defined groove. The actinal plates form large triangular 

 areas. They are closely arranged in many alternate rows. Each 

 bears a group of three to five erect, slightly divergent, partly webbed 

 spines, which become much longer and larger adorally. 



The adoral spines are stout and obtuse, about three or four pairs. 

 The epiorals are larger, stout, blunt, connivent, often only one pair 

 on small specimens, and then they resemble spiniform pedicellariae. 

 On larger specimens there may be four to six connivent pairs, and 

 then they resemble pectinate pedicellarieC. 



The adambulacral plates bear a furrow-series of two or three 

 slender, parallel, partly webbed spines and two or three larger, 

 longer, erect, blunt spines on the actinal side. 



The interactinal plates are covered with a thin skin that forms 

 delicate, narrow, ciliated canals, transverse to the rays, and running 

 out from between the adambulacral groups of spines. 



Color, in life, commonly orange, varying to scarlet, bright red, 

 dark red or red-brown, purple, lemon-yellow, etc. ; sometimes green- 

 ish or olive, or blotched with green. 



Its range extends from San Diego to middle Alaska. I have 

 studied specimens from many localities. It is abundant on the coast 

 of California, in shallow water and between tides, on rocky shores, 

 at Monterey and many other places. Pacific Grove (W. R. Coe), 

 many large examples; San Luis Obispo (Prof. E. T. Nelson). 

 Common at Vancouver Island. Numerous large specimens were col- 

 lected at Departure Bay, Vancouver Island, in 1909, by Prof. John 

 Macoun and party of the Canadian Geological Survey. Most of 



