Indian Deep-sea Asteroidea. 77 



of tlie rays, rcacliing to the level of the fourth marginal 

 plate. 



]^ay of Bengal, Carpenter's Ridge, 1520 fathoms, Glohi- 

 (/erina-ooze. 



3. Pararchaster violaceus, sp. n. 



Rays 5. 11 = 9-10 r. R = about 100 niilllm. in the 

 type specimen. 



Disk very small ; rays depressed, very long, tapering. 



Abactinal surface covered with close-set noduhir plates of 

 unequal size, each of which bears from two to four minute 

 capillary spinelcts, visible only with a lens on the rays, but 

 plain to the naked eye on the disk, where a few in the centre 

 become distinct spines. 



Supero-marginal plates more than 35, entirely lateral and 

 slightly oblique, elongate, rudely oval, tumid ; each with a 

 central tubercle, bearing a very stout and sharp spine 

 surrounded at its base by three to five spinelcts, one or two ot 

 which are usually large ; the odd interbrachial plate is a 

 salient eminence which supports a spike of preeminent size 

 rising out of a circle of large spinelcts. 



Infero-marginal plates alternate witli the supero-raarginals 

 and oblique, elongate, pyriform, tumid; each with two stout 

 sharp spines, of which the upper is nearly equal in size to 

 and the lower about half the size of the supero-marginal 

 spine, and with several distant spinelcts ; in the interbrachial 

 arcs the spaces between the plates to the number of four are 

 occupied each by a large pectinate pedicellaria. 



Adambulacral plates large, broad, tumid ; each with a 

 furrow-series of seven or eight obtuse spinelcts in a semi- 

 circular comb, and actinally with two large spinelcts. Mouth- 

 plates large, each with a furrow-series of seven or eight 

 spinelcts, increasing in size from periphery to centre, and with 

 a suture-series of two much larger spinelcts, 



Actinal interradial areas extremely small, with apparently 

 in each area only two pairs of distantly spinate plates and a 

 large pectinate pedicellaria between each pair. 



Anus subcentral and very distinct. Madreporiform plate 

 rather large, strongly convex, with close radial striations. 



Ambulacral furrow narrow. 



Papulse confined to oval areas quite at the base of the rays, 

 reaching only to the level of the second marginal plate. 



Colours in the fresh state delicate pink, with the disk 

 violet owing to the mud contained in the stomach and its 

 cajca. 



