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XXIV. -—Description of Mimaster, a new Genus of Asteroidea from the Faeroe 
Channel. By W. Percy Suaven, F.L.S., F.G.S. (Plate XXXIV.) 
(Read May 15, 1882.) 
The area lying between the north of Britain and the Faerée Islands is 
classical in the annals of Marine Zoology, not only from the fact that the first 
systematic deep-sea investigations undertaken by this country were carried out 
there, but also from the number of new and remarkable types of animal life 
which have been first found in that region. Speaking only of the Echinoderm 
fauna, in justification of these remarks, it will suffice to mention the discovery 
of such forms as Phormosoma and Porocidaris amongst Echinoids, and of 
Hymenaster, Korethraster and Zoroaster amongst Asteroids. 
The object of the present communication is to describe another new and 
important generic type, which has been added to the last-mentioned group 
during the dredging operations of H.M. hired ship “ Knight Errant,” whilst 
engaged during the autumn of 1880 in further investigating the area referred 
to. The results of that survey, including the discovery of the “ Wyville 
Thomson ” ridge, which was found to form the barrier that separates the ~ 
“ warm ” and the ‘‘cold” areas, have already been laid before this Society in a 
detailed account by Staff-Commander Tizarp, R.N., and Mr. Joun Murray.* 
I desire to express here my hearty thanks to Mr. Murray for placing the 
starfishes obtained during the cruise in my hands for determination. 
A list of the different species, with notes thereon, is appended to the paper 
previously cited. The following is a description in detail of the new form. 
Genus Mimaster, Sladen. 
Mimaster, Sladen, 1882, Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin., vol. xi. p. 702. 
Marginal contour stellato-pentagonal; dorsal area subject to inflation ; 
ventral area more or less convex. Abactinal floor composed entirely of inde- 
pendent paxille, without subjacent calcareous reticulated skeleton. Paxille 
small and compact. Numerous papule in the interspaces. 
Marginal plates arranged in dorsal and ventral series, small and covered with 
very numerous spinelets similar to those of the paxille. 
* Exploration of the Faerée Channel during the summer of 1880, in H.M. hired ship “ Knight 
Errant,” by Staff-Commander Tizarp, R.N., and Mr Jonn Murray ; with subsidiary Reports by various 
scientific men (Prvc. Roy. Soc. Edin., vol. xi. pp. 638-719). 
VOL, XXX. PART II. 4x 
