NEW STARFISHES FROM DEEP WATER OFF CALIFORNIA AND ALASKA. 297 



the rest graduated, the laterals being § to | as long and more lanceolate in shape. (2) ( in the actinal 

 surface aboul '■'• irregular longitudinal series of much smaller and slenderer spinelets, which decrease 

 rapidly in size as they recede from the furrow, the series adjacent to the furrow spines consisting of 



about 3 or 4 spinelets, tapering, pointed, and .' to jj the length of the longer of the former; the outer L' 

 series are very irregular, the outermost being smaller than adjacent artinal intermediate spinelets, and 

 between the former and the latter is a narrow zone free from spinelets. 



Mouth plates.large and prominent actlnally, the combined pair broadest at aboul the middle; 

 armature consisting of ( 1 ) a furrow or marginal series of S spines, similar in character to median spines 

 of adamhulacral furrow series, which begin at about middle of plate and form a fairly straight series 

 to inner angle, increasing in size as they proceed inward, the inner L' quite broad. Hat, and knife-like, 

 and, in common with the others, the edge away from furrow often thinner than that toward it; (2) 

 actinal surface covered with slender, spaced, spinelets, which increase in size toward the suture and 

 inner angle. 



Actinal intermediate areas large, the plates arranged in chevrons. The breadth of ray in this 

 species is largely due to the intermediate plates, of which 4 longitudinal series extend over ] the 

 length of ray, 3 series slightly over 3, 2 series over :j, and a single series nearly to tip. Plates strongly 

 carinated, the keel running transversely, each surmounted by a prominent pax illi form tuft of spinelets, 

 of which the peripheral are slender and papilliform, the central much stouter, often clavate, with 

 flattened, flaring pointed tips which appear to be bent outward toward marginal plates; spinelets of the 

 series adjacent to adambulacrals heavier, often subprismatic and square-tipped. In the dry state all 

 the spinelets are much slenderer, and the peripheral ones capillary. Between these actinal paxillae 

 are fairly deep fasciolar channels. 



Madreporic body large (9 mm. in diameter), irregular in outline, situated nearer to center than 

 midway to margin, and hidden by 18 or l!l large paxillae. 



Locality; Type from station 4MM4, Los Coronados Islands, southwest of San Diego, Cal., 525 fins., 

 green mud. 



This species is particularly characterized by its broad rays and disk, and the extensive actinal 

 intermediate areas. It further differs from l>. pentagonalis and /'. sladeni of the Indian region in 

 details of armature. The capture of this genus off California is rather surprising. 



According to Mr. M. H. Spaulding, the color in life is orange yellow, lighter yellow beneath. 



Genus PERSEPHONASTER Wood-Mason and Alcock. 



Persephonaster Wood-Mason >v Alcock, Ana. X. H. (6) VIII, 1891, 430 ( P. croceus Wood-Mason & Al. k i. 



Persephonaster penicillatus, new species. 



Rays 5. R=176mm.: r = 35mm. R = 5r. Breadth of ray at base (between second and third 

 superomarginals) iiti mm. 



General form flattened; rays long, and tapering from a narrow base, in smaller specimens just a 

 trifle swollen above the base; disk rather small, capable of slight inflation; interbrachial angles 



rounded; abaetinal integument thin, a trifli nvex at base of rays, rather sunken in middle of disk; 



marginal plates conspicuous, armed with stout spines, not encroaching upon abaetinal area; no pedicel- 

 laria- present; superambulacral plates present. 



Abaetinal area covered with rather small regular paxillae disposed in very regular transverse, 

 slightly curved rows on the rays, but not regularly on center of disk; these series rather widely spaced 

 and between them a double row of conspicuous papulse, which are numerous also on the disk; each 

 paxilla consisting of an elongate, elliptical base set longitudinally with reference to long axis of ray, 

 surmounted by a stout, cylindrical, convex-tipped pedicel which bears a crown of 8 or 10 very slender, 

 tapering, needle-like spinelets, considerably longer than the pedicel, and usually standing upright in 

 a cylindrical coordinate group, highly characteristic; paxilla- largest on proximal radial areas, and, 

 owing to the fact that the spinelets stand close together, appearing widely spaced, the papulse in 

 alcoholic specimens being very conspicuous, though not large. 



Superomarginal plates, 39 in number, from median interradial line to extremity of ray, confined 

 almost entirely to side wall; plates strongly tumid, subquadrate, except in interbrachial arc, where 

 they are much higher than long; abaetinal margin slightly arched; no fasciolar furrows between either 



