CLYPE ASTER SPECIOSUS. 31 



slender and very numerous. Pedicellariae common; tridentate have valves 

 .15-.80 mm. long with rather broad blades, like those of rotundus (Tl. 123, fig. 

 27); ophicephalous have heads about .20 mm. long; triphyllous have valves 

 about .06 mm. long, somewhat narrower apparently than in rotundus (PI. 123, 

 fig. 25). 



Color aborally, yellowish brown; orally reddish brown; primary spines near 

 mouth with a very faint dusky band about middle. Color in life not known; 

 the description is from a specimen dried after forty years in alcohol. 



A second larger specimen is 112 mm. long, 92 mm. wide, 30 mm. high, with 

 mouth sunken 15 mm. The color is not essentially different but the dusky 

 band on the oral primaries is more distinct. The test margin is 11 mm. thick 

 or about .10 test-length. 



Both specimens were collected at Acapulco, Mexico, by the Hassler 

 expedition in 1872. 



These specimens bear no other label than "Clypeaster" and were apparently 

 never identified by Mr. Agassiz. The form and color distinguish them so 

 easily from the numerous specimens of speciosus which I have seen from Lower 

 California that I have been unwilling to consider them that species, although 

 no other differences of importance have been found. More material may 

 show that ochrus is only a local form of speciosus but for the present it seems 

 better to consider them distinct. 



Clypeaster speciosus. 



Verrill, 1870. Amer. Journ. Sci., ser. 2, 49, p. 95. 



Plates 122, fig. 11; 128, fig. 7; 135, figs. 1, 2; 136, fig. 5. 



Although Mr. Agassiz considered this species identical with the following, 

 the differences between them are very constant and I cannot refuse to recognize 

 each as a valid species. The difference in tuberculation of the test is well shown 

 on PL 128, in figs. 4 and 7. Neither primary nor miliary spines in speciosus are 

 peculiar. Pedicellariae are common and all three kinds occur; they are similar 

 to those of rotundus, except that the valves of the triphyllous seem to be a little 

 more elongated in proportion to their width. 



The Albatross collected speciosus at the following points : — 

 Station 2824. Gulf of California, 24° 22' 30" N., 110° 19' 30" W. S fms. 

 Brk. sh. 



