CLASSIFICATION. 



39 



Nardo^ proposed to divide the European stav-fishes into five genera, several of 

 which correspond with the Linckian genera : 1st. Stkllauia = Astuopectex, Linck 

 (includes A. aurantiaca, A. calcitrajKi). 2nd. Stellonia = Stella-coriacka, Linck 

 {A. riibcn.s, A. (/lacialis). 3rd. Asterina = Pentaceros, Linck fA- cxif/iia, A. hi'mitaj. 

 4th. Anseropoda = Palmipes, Linck fA. ii/eiiibranacca, A. rosacm). .^th. Linck fa = 

 Pentadactylos aster, Linck fA. laviqata, A. variolosa). 



Professor Agassiz," in liis arrangement of the Echinoderniata, proposed a division of 

 the Asteriadae into nine genera, in which he substituted new names for Nardo's genera, 

 and added others for extra European and extinct species. This arrangement is irrespec- 

 tive of the number of the I'avs. 



1. AsTERiAS, Ag. {— Astrojjecten^ Linck; Crenastcr, Luid. : Peirfastcrie, 



Stellaria, Nardo.) The body stellate, the upper surface tesselate, and the rays 

 depressed ; the margin bordered with two rows of large plates, carrying small 

 spines. Types of this germs, A. aurantiaca, A. calcitrapa. 



2. CiELASTEK, Ag. — This genus differs from the preceding in having the inner cavity 



circumscribed by pkates disposed as in the Uchinidai, and having in the anal area 

 an ambulacra] star. Type, C. Coiiloni, Ag. 



3. GoNiASTER, Ag. (= Pentagonaster, Linck; Fentaceros, Linck; Scufasteric, Blainv, 



The body pentagonal, margin bordered by a double scries of large plates wdiich 

 support spines and grannies, upper surface nodulated. Types, A. tessellafa, 

 Lamk. ; A. equestris, Linn. 



4. Ophidtaster, Ag. — Rays long, cylindrical, or conical, covered with fine, close-set 



granules, ambulacral area very narrow. Type, Aster ias ophidiana, Lamk. 



5. LiNCKiA, ^?ixAo {== Fe7itadacfijIosaster, Linck). Body stellate; rays elongated, 



covered with tubercules, showing the porous integument in the intertubercular 

 spaces. Type, A. variolata, Lamk. ; Linck, Stel. Mar., tab. viii, fig. 10. 



0. Stellonia, Nardo (= Stella coriacea, Linck ; Pentasteries in part and Solasteries, 

 Blainv.) The body stellate and covered with spines more or less prominent. 

 Types, A. rubens, Linn. ; A. (jlacialis. Linn. ; A. endeca, Linn., Linck, tab. x\', 

 fig. 1 ; A. papposa, Linn., Linck, tab. xvii, No. 28 ; A. helianthm, Lamk. ; Knc. 

 Mcth., PI. 108. 



1 ' Naturforscher,' 1833. ' Isis,' 1834. 



- 'Memoires Soc. Sciences Naturelles de Neufclifitel,' torn, i, p. 190, 1831). 



