Species of British Echinodermata* 127 



whole length of their upper surface, and terminating at a cir- 

 clet of similar spines on the disk. Under surface of arms 

 margined with a double row of spines, of which the outer are 

 the longer; and having very numerous small spines arranged 

 in single file overhanging the ambulacra. Ambulacra wide 

 at the base, and thence gradually tapering to the extremity 

 of the rays. Pedicellarise of two kinds, — ^the one very small, 

 composed of two interlocking blades, grouped in vast numbers 

 round the base of the spines; the other very much larger, 

 pincer-formed, with simple margins and a somewhat digiti- 

 form apex, scattered over the surface. Greater to lesser radius 

 as 7-8 to 1. A large species, measuring commonly from 

 1 to 2 feet across, and sometimes attaining yet greater 

 dimensions. 



It is not a little remarkable that this species, which is found 

 in the Mediterranean and ranges to Finmark and Scandinavia, 

 and is of frequent occurrence on the northern, western, and 

 southern coasts of our islands, appears to be wholly absent from 

 the east coast of England and Scotland. It is recorded in the 

 "Dredging Reports of the Durham and Northumberland Coast," 

 by Messrs. Brady and Hodge (Tyneside Nat. Field-Club Trans, 

 vol. V. p. 285, and vol. vi. p. 190), — but erroneously, as the spe- 

 cimens referred to belong to the next species, which at the time 

 of the drawing up of those Reports was not known, except to 

 myself, as an inhabitant of the British seas. 



Asterias Mulleri (Sars). 



1846. Asteracanthion Mulleri, Sars, Fauna Litt. Norvegiae, i. p. 56, pi. 8. 



figs. 38, 39. 

 1861. Asteracanthion Mulleri, Sars, Oversigt af Norges Echinodermer, 



p. 88. 



Rays very convex, but not angulated : spines not large, more 

 numerous than in the last species, and more irregularly dis- 

 posed, but forming five longitudinal rows (namely, one central 

 and two lateral on each side), the spines of all of which are 

 of equal size. Spines of disk irregularly placed, not forming 

 a distinct circlet. Under surface of rays as in the last spe- 

 cies; but the spines bordering on the ambulacra larger in 

 proportion to size of specimen, and therefore less numerous 

 than in A, glacialis. Pedicellarise of one kind only, minute, 

 with interlocking blades, grouped round the base of the 

 spines, but less numerous than in the last species ; and the 

 second and larger form, which is present in the latter, is 

 wholly absent in this species. Greater to lesser radius as 

 4-6 to 1. More nearly allied to A. glacialis than to A. ruhens. 

 The British examples that I have seen do not exceed 2 inches 



