[17] ALBATROSS EXPLORATIONS. 519 



stomach of this star-fish specimens of sea-urchins [Brissopsis lyrifera and 

 Aceste bellidifera) 1 to 2 inches in diameter, but partially crushed.* 



A smaller and very distinct new species of this genus (Archaster sepi- 

 tus v.), from 368 to 858 fathoms, has two regular, divergent rows of mar- 

 ginal spines all around, while the rather swollen marginal plates are 

 covered with small, sharp spiuules, and similar spinules cover the lower 

 side. The adambulacral plates project strongly into the grooves and 

 bear very convex groups of slender, tapering spines. The disk is 

 rather small and the tapering arms moderately elongated. 



A large and handsome new Archaster {A. robustus V.), remarkable 

 for its long, high, squarish arms and smoothish aj)pearance, was taken 

 at several localities, in 938 to 1,467 fathoms. Its marginal plates are 

 closely covered with small scale-like spinules, but bear no marginal 

 spines. The disk is small and the arms long. It is sometimes over a 

 foot in diameter. Another new and very elegant species of this genus 

 {A. formosus V.) was taken sparingly at several stations, in 1,467 to 

 1,608 fathoms. This species has a rather broad, flat, pentagonal disk, 

 with large, distinct, hexagonal paxillae, while the arms rapidly narrow 

 and have only one or two rows of paxillsB distally. Their tips are slen- 

 der and terminate in a thickened apical plate. There are no marginal 

 spines. 



A very interesting new form, taken in many localities, is related 

 to Archaster and Astropecten, cloSiCly resembling some of the spinose 

 species of these genera in general appearance. It represented a new 

 genus {Benthopecten spinosus V.). The flat dorsal surface is closely cov- 

 ered with tesselated, angular plates, having single, definite, small pores 

 for solitary branchial jjapulse between them, while there are no true 

 paxillge, the small spiaules arising singly, or two or three together, 

 directly from the plates. The marginal plates, above and below, bear 

 single large, sharp spines, the five largest ones occupying the central 

 interbrachial plates, on the upper margin. The disk is of moderate or 

 rather small size, but the arms are long and tapered. It occurred in 

 855 to 1,917 fathoms, in 1883, but is most abundant in 1,200 to 1,500 

 fathoms. 



' Among the most interesting of all the star-fishes were two species of 

 the remarkable genus Brisinga. One of these {B. elegans V.), taken in 

 many localities in 1883 and 1884, in 906 to 2,021 fathoms, sometimes in 

 large numbers, has often been obtained and preserved nearly entire. 

 It is a handsome species with very long, slender, finely-tapered arms, 

 usually eleven or twelve in number, but varying from nine to thirteen. 



* In one case I also found in its stomacli a fresh, specimen of the common surface 

 barnacle (Lepas anaiifer), which is often found in large numbers attached to floating 

 timber, «fec., in the Gulf Stream. This Lepas unquestionably sank to the bottom and 

 was swallowed by the star-fish (living at the depth of 1,395 fathoms) before decompo- 

 sition had begun. This illustrates well the dependence of the deep-sea life on the 

 Burfaee fauna. 



