128 



COLLECTIONS FKOM MELANESIA. 



13. Oreaster nodosus. 



Asterias nodosa, LinncBus, Syst. Nat. ed. xii. p. 1100. 

 Pentaceros turritus, Perrier, p. 240. 



Pine specimens from 4 fmS., Port Denison. 



14. Oreaster, sp. 



A single dried specimen of a very interesting and, apparently, 

 new form was also collected at Port Denison. Unfortunately, in 

 the process of drying the disk has so fallen in as to completely alter 

 what must have heen a very different height in the living specimen, 

 and, as may be supposed, the lophial line has also suffered. 



15. Stellaster belcheri. 

 Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 76. 



Port Curtis. 



16. Stellaster incei. 

 Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 76. 



A fine series of dried specimens was collected, and a^s there are 

 some in which K was no more than 30 mOlim., while in others it 

 was equal to 95 mUlim., we are able to see the great variability in 

 the number and presence of the spinous tubercles, which may be 

 very feebly or exceedingly well developed. 



This is not one of those species in which we find that the smaller 

 or younger specimens are the more richly provided with tubercles ; 

 but with this we have to correlate (1) the solidity of the skeleton, 

 and (2) the small size and consequent slight defensive power of 

 these tubercles, even when they are weU developed. 



One specimen, which, unfortunately, is very much injured, has a 

 " greater radius " of as much as 120 miUim. 



Port MoUe ; Port Curtis (5-11 fms.j ; Port Denison (6 fms.) ; 

 Albany Island (6 fms.) ; Thursday Island ; and Arafura Sea. 



17. Pentagonaster coppingeri. 



This species belongs to the Astrogonium section of the genus as 

 arranged by Prof. Perrier, for the two rows of marginal plates are 

 richly provided with granules, and with one or two larger granules 

 which can hardly be called spines. 



Arms five. K=91, /•=46. Arms 24 millim. wide at base, nar- 

 rowing rather rapidly ; marginal plates exceedingly well developed ; 

 pediceUarisB reduced. 



The central region of the disk is a little elevated, the thickness 

 there being about double that of the margin of the disk ; the whole 

 abactinal surface consists of a close arrangement of ossicles, the 

 surfaces of which are coarsely granulated ; the granules are a little 



