280 



Mr. J. E. Gray's Synopsis of 



11. Calliaster, Gray. 

 Body 5 -rayed, with flat immersed ossicula armed with flat-based 

 deciduous conical spines, and withont any 2-lipped slits on either 

 surface. 



1. Calliaster Childreni, Gray. Gray, back slightly convex, with a 

 centre, a ring and 5 radiating lines of small spines ; rays slender, 

 tapering, as long as the width of the body ; each of the marginal 

 pieces with a central series of 3 distant spines. 



Inhab. . 



c. Ambulacra with 3 or 4 series of equal close larger spines near the 

 edge ; body depressed, flat ; marginal ossicula large, smooth, 2-rowed, 

 with only a single series of granules on each of their edges. 



12. Goniaster. 



Ossicula flat, the dorsal ossicula granulated and armed with deci- 

 duous flat-based spines ; both surfaces destitute of any 2-lipped slits. 



In the younger specimens only the middle of the back and the cen- 

 tral dorsal lines of the rays are spine-bearing, but as the animal en- 

 larges the other tesserae on the sides become covered, and at length 

 they are separated into groups by the groove extending from the 

 centre to the angle of the margin between the rays. The tubercles 

 easily fall off in the dry specimens, leaving a smooth distinct flat 

 scar. 



1. Goniaster cuspidatus. Pentagonaster semilunatus cuspidatus, 

 Linck, 21. t. 23. f. 37. perfect; t. 22. f. 39. imperfect; and Seba, iii. 

 t. 6. f. 9. perfect. Ast. tessellatus, D and C. Lam. Body 5-angu- 

 lar, sides curved, arms broad, triangular, rather more than half as 

 long as the width of the body. 



Inhab. . 



2. Goniaster Seba, Seba, iii. t. 8. f. 2. differs in the sides of the 

 rays being angularly inflexed. 



3. Goniaster regular is, Seba, iii. t. 8. f. 4, copied for Pentagonaster 

 regularis, Linck, 20. t. 13. f. 22 Body with five nearly straight 

 sides. 



13. Pentagonaster, Gray. 



Body formed of convex, smooth, and spineless ossicula ; the os- 

 sicula of the under side with a central sunk line with a central per- 

 foration and a small pit at each end. The marginal ossicula near 

 the tips of the rays very large and swollen. 



1 . Pentagonaster pulchellus. Asterias pulchella, Gray, Encycl. Me- 

 trop. t. . f . . Body with 5 deeply concave sides, with 4 oval 

 convex tubercles on each side, and a small one interposed between 

 the angles of each of them. 



Inhab. China. 



When the large apical tubercles have been injured it becomes 

 divided into small unequal ones. 



