Indian Deep-sm Asteroidea. 117 



pedicellariaj. Mouth -plates ambiilacral, each with two large 

 spines. 



Madreporiform body placed in the middle of a large basal 

 (interradial) plate. 



Anal aperture indistinct. 



Tube-feet quadriserial, ending in a sucker. 



Colour in the fresh state deep orange-yellow, with large 

 chestnut-brown blotches. 



Andaman Sea, 120 to 250 fathoms. 



This is a very remarkable and interesting form^ and has 

 repeatedly led me on to difficult and uncertain ground. Its 

 affinities, unlike those of some of its fellows of tlie Stolasterian 

 alliance, appear to be more Stichasteroid and Zoroasteroid 

 than Brisingoid. 



Family Brisingidae. 

 Brisinga, Asbjornsen. 



51. Brisinga insularum, Alcock and Wood-Mason. 

 Brisinga insularum, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., Dec. 1891, p. 439. 

 Allied to B. coronata, Sars. 



Rays 13. 



Disk comparatively large (its diameter being 44 millim. in 

 the type specimen), with vertical edge ; rays not extremely 

 deciduous (six of them still being firmly attached to the disk 

 in the type specimen), but fragile, inflated and broadened in 

 the basal (ovarian) region. 



Abactinal surface of the disk invested by a tough, opaque 

 membrane, closely covered with coarse granules which form 

 a base each for a tuft of minute spinelets. 



Abactinal surface of the rays covered with a very delicate 

 transparent membrane, wdiich in the basal part of the rays is 

 strengthened by from thirteen to seventeen sinuous, very 

 salient, transverse ridges, armed with strongly spinate plates 

 and covered with microscopic pedicellari(B. In the intervals 

 between these ridges, as throughout the ray at regular close 

 intervals, occur broad, slightly raised, felt-like, transverse 

 bands of microscopic pedicellarige. 



The vertebra-like adambulacral plates have the following 

 armature : — (i.) abactino-marginally, on a distinct but closely 

 fused platelet, a needle-like spine ten to twelve times as long 

 as the plate itself; (ii.) actino-marginallj^, a similar spine 

 four to five times as long as the plate ; (iii.) on the furrow- 



