512 PROF. F, J. BELL ON THE GENUS ASTERIAS. [May 3, 



much as 3 millim. long, are autacanthid ; and their bases are sur- 

 rounded by shorter spines or papilliform processes of the integument. 

 Towards the tip of the arm the innermost row disap[)ears. The 

 large space between the outermost or third row, or that which runs 

 along the lower portion of the side of the arm on either side, presents 

 in its lower portion irregular and feebly-developed spines ; along 

 the middle line of the back of the arm there runs an irregular row of 

 spines or clumps of spines ; and on either side of this there is a still more 

 irregular row. The middle row is continued onto the disk, the centre of 

 which is occupied by a clump of five autacanthid, more or less blunt 

 and rounded tubercle-like spinous processes ; at an equal distance 

 from this central clump, and at the base of each ray, there is another 

 clump, a little more irregular in character ; an accessory clump may 

 be developed near the central one. The same clump-arrangement 

 is exhibited all along the back of the arm, but varies within very 

 wide limits, and only one spine may be developed. The whole 

 integument is thick and granular, the madreporic body more or 

 less prominent, pedicellariae rather rare. General colour light 

 orange-yellow (after immersion in spirit for at least twenty-five 

 years). 72=90, ?-=23 , -B= 101, ?-=25. 



So far as we may judge from two specimens, the species will be 

 found to exhibit considerable variation. 



It has the same general formula as has A. meridionalis, and, so 

 far as one may judge from the diagnosis, A. scahra ; from the former 

 it may be at once distinguished by the less regular repartition of the 

 spines of the abactinal surface, and by the complete absence of any 

 bare interbracbial space on the actinal surface of the disk. I am 

 quite unable to form any conception of A, scabra from Capt. IIuttou'3 

 description. 



AsTERiAS iNERMis, n. sp. (Plate XLVII. figs. 2, 2a.) 



This species is also founded on a specimen collected by Mr. Good- 

 ridge, and bears Ecuador as its locality. 



General formula 2aa}. 



It is remarkp.ble for the very feeble development of spines on its 

 abactinal surface, where, though all autacanthid, they form the 

 merest projections. 



Rays five, broad at base, tapering rapidly but regularly; two 

 rows of adambulacral spines ; madreporic plate anechinoplaoid, 

 obscure, quite at the margin of the disk ; spines of actinal surface 

 short, slender, deHcate and autacanthid. Of all the spines the 

 longest are the adambulacral ; but thej' do not exceed 2 millim. 

 in length. Beyond these there is a row of spines, generally one only 

 on each plate ; in the next outer row the spines are rather sharper 

 and longer, and there are sometimes two on one plate. Beyond this 

 the rows begin to get somewhat indistinct, and the spines still 

 shorter. Plates carrying very short, white, tubercle-li]fe spines are 

 closely packed, without any apparent order, over the whole of the 

 flbactinal surface. 



