APPENDIX. 339 



No. IX. 



THE DESCRIPTION 



OF SOME 



NEW SPECIES OF STARFISHES, ASTERIADJE. 



BY J. E. GRAY, ESQ. F.R.S. F.Z.S. &c. 



Mr. Jukes, Mr. Macgillivray, and my nephew, Com- 

 mander Ince, R.N. brought home numerous species of this 

 genus, most of which appeared to be new ; but, unfortunately, 

 they require more time for their comparison and description, 

 than I can just at this time bestow on them. I have, 

 therefore, left them to appear in my forthcoming illustrated 

 Monograph of this family; and describe only the following 

 very distinct and striking species. 



I may here remark that several of the habitats given in 

 Miiller and Troschell's work are not correct, which is much 

 to be regretted, as these authors have given an essay on 

 the geographical distribution of the species of this genus, 

 founded on their habitat. — Pentagonasler pulchellus (As- 

 terog. pulchellus, Muller,p. 55), is from Japan and China, 

 and not New Zealand ; and they have evidently placed 

 some of my species together, as varieties of the same, with- 

 out having had the opportunity of examining the specimens 

 on which they are founded, as is the case with Asterias 

 Helianthus, A. Cumingii, and A. multiradiata, which 

 they regard as the same as Aster -acantheon Helianthus, 

 p. 18; they appear to think from their note, that the num- 

 ber of the arms is the only character which separates them, 

 overlooking the proportion given, and the difference in the 

 shape of the arms and spines. 



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