118 bulletin: museum of compaeative zoology. 



Asthenosoma bicolor A. Ag. and Clark. 



This species is apparently nearly related to Owstoni, but differs in color 

 and in certain features of the test. The coronal plates are low and very 

 numerous, 44 in the interambulacra and 75 in the ambulacra; in Owstoni of 

 the same size (125 mm.), the numbers are 38 and 60 respectively. The test 

 is more flexible abactinally than in Owstoni, and the bare median ambulacral 

 and interambulacral areas are more marked. The test and spines arc dull 

 yellowish actinally, while on the abactinal surface the interambulacra are chiefly 

 yellow and the ambulacra are dull violet. These colors are not sharply defined, 

 but contrast with each other nevertheless. The genital plates in bicolor are 

 not so elongated as in Owstoni, for they separate only the first pair of inter- 

 ambulacral plates and touch the second, while in Owstoni they separate the first 

 two pairs and touch, sometimes nearly separating, the third. In bicolor, four of 

 the genitals are remarkable in that the outer part of the plate (*". <?., the part distal 

 to the pore) is separated by a regular suture from the remainder of the genital, 

 and thus is a perfectly distinct plate. The pedicellariae of bicolor appear to be 

 identical with those of Owstoni. 



Station 4939. In Kagoshima Gulf, Japan, 85 fathoms. 



One specimen. 



Asthenosoma pyrochloa A. Ag. and Clark. 



This handsome species is very nearly related to the Atlantic species hystrix, and 

 is ouly to be distinguished by the color and some differences in the arrangement 

 of the primary tubercles. The entire test is of a most brilliant vermilion-red, 

 strikingly different from the rich rose-red of hystrix. In the ambulacra, on the 

 actinal side, there are two distinct vertical series of tubercles, beginning near the 

 peristome and running nearly or quite to the ambitus. These series lie near to- 

 gether in the median ambulacral area, and on the outer side of each is a shorter 

 and less complete series. In the interambulacra we find very regular series run- 

 ning along the margins close to the ambulacra, and in each area there is a second 

 series on the inner ends of the interambulacral plates. Each plate also carries, not 

 infrequently, one or two additional tubercles. Abactinally each interambulacral 

 plate carries two and often three large tubercles. The secondary and miliary 

 spines are much coarser, and possibly more numerous, than in hystrix, so that the 

 general appearance, especially of the abactinal surface, is rather different. The 

 largest specimen is about 190 mm. in diameter. 



Station 4919. Off Kagoshima Gulf, Janan, 440 fathoms. 

 " 5083. Off Omai Saki Light, Japan, 624 fathoms. 



Three specimens. 



Phormosoma bursarium A. Ag. 



Phormosoma bursarium A. Agassiz, 1881. Rept. Cliall. Ech., p. 99, PI. 10 b. 



Although these specimens from the northwestern Pacific show such diversity 

 among themselves that they can be divided into two groups, and although neither of 



