38 



ASTEROIDEA. 



corresponds with our order Asteroidea, Linck proposed seven well established genera, as 

 Pentayonaster, Fentaceros, Asfrojjccten, Pahjii^jcs, Stella coriacea, Sol marims, Penfaclac- 

 tylosaster, which have formed the basis of subsequent classifications. The "plass 1 . Stellaruui 

 pauciorum quam quinque radiornm," comprising Trisactis and Tctradis, included forms 

 which were either varieties or malformations of other species ; and " Class III. Stellas 

 marinas in plures quam quinque radios fissas," comprising Rcxadhi, Heptactin, Octactis, 

 JSnneactin, Decaclis, Dodocadw, and Triskaidecactis, are in part included in the Sun-stars 

 of modern authors. 



De Blainville^ divided the Asteriadte into six sections ; these nearly correspond with 

 Linck's divisions; which w^ere based on the form of body. 



A. Species with a pentagonal body, and few or no lobes at the circumference, the 

 angles being fissured (Les Oreillers, Aderim discoidea, Lanik,). Ency. Method. 

 PI. 97, fig. 3. Aderiasi graiudaris, Linn. Linck, Stellis Marinis, tab, xiii, fig. 3. 



B, Species pentagonal, body thin and membranous (Les Palmasteries = Palaiipes, 



Linck). Palmipes inemhranaccus, Retz. Forbes, Star-fishes p. 116. P. rosacem, 

 Lamk. Enc. Meth., PI. 99, fig. 2. 



c. Species five-lobed, and not articulated at the circumference ; ex. Aslerias n/innta, 

 Linn. Enc. Meth., PI. 100, fig. 1 — 3. Pentaceros gihhus plicatus, Linck, StelUs 

 Marinis, t. 3, No. 20. 



D. Species pentagonal, more or less lobed and articulated at the circumference (Les 



ScATASTERiEs ; ou Platasteries). Examples, Pentagonaster semihmatus, Linck, 

 Stell. Mar. t. 23, fig. 37. Goniasfer eqitedri!^, Gmelin, Eorbes, Brit. Star- 

 fishes, p. 125. 



E. Species deeply divided into five rays. 



Pays triangular, depressed, and articulated at the borders {Astroj)eclc7i, Linck ; 

 Crenaster, Luid.) ; examples, Astropeden wtrcmtiacus. Linn. Forbes, Brit. 

 Star-fishes, p. 130. Linck, Stell. Mar. t, 5 and 6. 



** Rays triangular, short, and rounded above ; example, Uraster r/ibens, Linn. 

 Forbes, Brit. Star-fishes, p. 83. Urader glacially. Linn. ; Forbes, Brit. Star- 

 fishes, p. 78. 



*f* Rays long, narrow, and often contracted at their origin. Lindcia variolata, 

 \ J Agass. Linck, Stell. Mar. tab. i, fig. 1, tab. viii, fig. 10. 



Species which have more than five or six rays (Les Solastkries). Soladcr 

 papposa Linn. Forbes, Brit. Star-fishes, p. 112, Stell. Mar., tab. xvii. No. 28, 

 tab. xxxii. No. 52. Luidia fragilUssima, Forbes, Brit. Star-fishes, p. 135. 



^ ' Dictionnaire dcs Sciences Naturelles,' art. "Zoophyte," p. 216, 1830. 



