156 MR W. PERCY SLADEN ON THE 



figures of specimens dredged during the Norwegian North Atlantic Expedition, 

 and a well-marked variety (var. tuberculata, D. and K.) is also defined. Daniel- 

 ssen and Koren state that they place the S. tumidus provisionally as an 

 Asterina, and mention at the same time a number of important points wherein 

 the form differs from that genus. The determination appears to have been 

 published with cautious hesitation, and I feel bound to express regret that the 

 circumstance of the discovery of the new species should force upon me the 

 undesired course of forestalling the Norwegian savants in the establishment of 

 a genus for the reception of a form upon which they have bestowed such care- 

 ful study. 



Through the kindness of Professor Loven, I had the privilege of examining 

 Dr Stuxberg's type specimens when in Stockholm last autumn, and I am able 

 to confirm the opinion of Drs Danielssen and Koren in regarding the original 

 reference of the form to Solaster as altogether untenable. 



7. Rhegaster Marrayi, n. sp. (Plate XXVI. figs. 2-7.) 



Station 5. August 10, 1882. Lat. 60° 11' to 60° 20' N., long. 8° 15' to 



8° 8' W. 

 Depth, 433 to 285 fathoms ; bottom temperature, 43°*5 to 40° '8 Fahr. 



Marginal contour subpentagonal, rays slightly produced; the lesser radius 

 in the proportion of 77 per cent, or as 5 : 65. R=143 mm., r=ll mm. 



Interbrachial angles somewhat indented at the median interradial line, from 

 whence the contour curves outward faintly, consequent on a slightly tumid swell- 

 ing at the base of the ray, and is then gracefully incurved towards the tip, which 

 is obtuse and rounded. Abactinal area high and convex over the disk, sloping 

 down regularly to the extremity of the rays, the height at the centre of the disk 

 being 11*75 mm. A feeble sulcus or depression is present on the outer part of 

 the median interradial line, which emphasises the tumid character of the base 

 of the rays. Actinal surface more or less flat, excepting that the rays are 

 slightly turned up at their extremity, and that a rather sharp depression occurs 

 in the interbrachial areas along the inner part of the median interradial line, 

 behind the mouth-plates. 



Dorsal area covered with short, delicate spinelets, all of uniform length and 

 size, their lower portion being apparently sunken in membrane. The spinelets 

 stand perpendicular and are closely placed, presenting to the naked eye the 

 appearance of a fine and uniformly granular surface. When magnified the 

 spines are seen to be slightly expanded or flaring outwardly, and to be com- 

 posed of many rods or lamellaj, with the extremity of each individual lamella 

 terminating in a short thorn-like point. 



