38 ASTEROlDExV. 



corresponds with our order Asteroidea, Linck proposed seven well established genera, as 

 'Fentcifjonaster, Fentaceros, Astropecten, Palmipes, Stella coriacea, Sol marinus, Pentadac- 

 tylosaster, which liave formed the basis of subsequent classifications. The ",Class 1 . Stellaruiu 

 pauciorum quani quinque radiorum," comprising Trimctis and Tetractis, included forms 

 which were either varieties or malformations of other species; and "Class III. Stellas 

 marinas in plures quam quinque radios fissas/' comprising Rexactin, Hcptadin, Odactis!, 

 Unneaciiji, Decadis, Bodecadh, and Tris-hndecadis, ave. in part included in the Sun-stars 

 of modern authors. ' 



De Blainville^ divided the Asteriadse into six sections ; these nearly correspond with 

 Linck's divisions, which were based on the form of body. 



A. Species with a pentagonal body, and few or no lobes at the circumference, the 

 angles being fissured (Les Oreillers, Asteria-s discoidea, Lamk.). Ency. Method. 

 PI. 97, fig. 3. Asterias (jranidaris, Linn. Linck, Stellis Marinis, tab. xiii, fig. 3. 



B. Species pentagonal, body thin and membranous (Les Palmasteries = Palmiprs, 



Linck). Palji/ipes itiembratiacetis, Retz, Forbes, Star-fishes p. 116. P. rosar-efn^, 

 Lamk. Enc. Meth., PL 99, fig. 2. 



c. Species five-lobed, and not articulated at the circumference ; ex. Asterias iuinuta, 

 Linn. Enc. Meth., PI. 100, fig. 1 — 3. Pcntaceros gibhiis pUcatus, Linck, Stellis 

 Marinis, t. 3, No. 20. 



D. Species pentagonal, more or less lobed and articulated at the circumference (Le« 



Scatasteries ; ou Platasteries). Examples, Penlagonaster semilunatKS, Linck, 

 Stell. Mar. t. 23, fig. 37. Goninsfer equedrU, Gmelin, Forbes, Brit. Star- 

 fishes, p. 125. 



E. Species deeply divided into five rays. 



* Pays triangular, depressed, and articulated at the borders {Astropeclen, Linck ; 

 CreHaster, Luid.) ; examples, Astropeden auranliac/i-s, Linn. Forbes, Brit. 

 Star-fishes, p. 130. Linck, Stell. Mar. t. 5 and 0. 



** Rays triangular, short, and rounded above; example, Ura-sler ruben,s,lj\n\\. 

 Forbes, Brit. Star-fishes, p. 83. Uraster (/lacialis, Linn. ; Forbes, Brit. Star- 

 fishes, p. 78. 



*** Rays long, narrow, and often contracted at their origin. Linckia varioloid, 

 Agass. Linck, Stell. Mar. tab. i, fig. 1, tab. viii, fig. 10. 



v. Species which have more than five or six rays (Les Solasteries). Solaslcr 

 pap2)osa Linn. Forbes, Brit. Star-fishes, p. 112, Stell. Mar., tab. xvii. No. 2^^, 

 tab. xxxii. No. 52. Luidia fra(/illissma, Forbes, Brit. Star-fishes, p. 135. 



1 ' Dictionnaire (les Sciences Natnrelles,' art. "Zoophyte," p. 216, 1830. 



