326 



MR. W. PERCV SLADEN ON THE 



or enlarged squamules, one of which is usually more prominent 

 and near the aboral margin of the plate. No other spinelets are 

 present on the infero-marginal plates, which are covered with rather 

 large, moderately well-spaced, uniform squamules. 



The armature of the adambulacral plates consists of short 

 robust spinelets, which form two distinct series and an indistinct 

 median series. The inner or furrow series consists of three short, 

 robust, obtusely tipped spinelets which radiate apart and arch 

 over the furrow, the middle spine being longest. The outer series 

 consists of two spinelets which are shorter and more robust than 

 the furrow series, and have a flat subspatulate form ; and the 

 aboral spinelet of the pair is frequently larger and much broader 

 than its companion, but sometimes subequal. The indistinct 

 median series consists of two very small papilliform spines, one 

 placed on each margin of the plate, which might almost be counted 

 as the outer spinelets of a furrow series of five spinelets. 



The mouth-plates are elongate and narrow, with a single row 

 of eight to ten short, robust, papilliform spinelets on their surface ? 

 which are small outwardly but increase in length as they approach 

 the mouth, the innermost spinelet being longer than any of the 

 others and directed horizontally. On the free margin of the 

 mouth-plate there is a lineal series of short, rather robust spinelets, 

 directed horizontally, which increase in length as they approach 

 the inner extremity of the plate, the innermost spinelets being 

 long and forming the horizontal fan of mouth-spines which pro- 

 ceed from each mouth-angle and cover the mouth. The adambu- 

 lacral plate adjoining the mouth-plate is much broader and 

 shorter than the others, and bears a lineal series of eight or nine 

 short papilliform spinelets on each side, the two series being 

 apposable. 



The madreporiform body is entirely hidden by paxilla?. 



Colour in alcohol, an ashy grey mottled with lines and bars of 

 chocolate-brow n. On the inner third of the ray there is a line of 

 colour adjacent to tl e marginal plates which is continuous with 

 and meet - the corresponding band of the ad jacent ray on the disk, 

 forming a V-shapcd mark thickened in the angle. At the 

 junction of the median and outer third of the ray is abroad 

 transverse band of colour which passes over the paxillar area and 

 marginal plates uninterruptedly. 



Bemarkt. This species is allied to Astropccten granula///s } 



Miilh r & Troschel ; but. is distinguished by the character of the 



