26 NATUEAL HISTOEY BULLETIN 



more slender than the marginals, slightly clavate, subhyaline; 

 oral and adoral spines similar. 



This closely resembles S. alhula, of the northern coast and 

 arctic regions. It seems less variable in number of rays and is 

 perhaps less often divided by autotomy. Its marginal spines are 

 longer, more expanded and flatter. 



I have examined several of the types of this species in the 

 Museum of Comp. Zoology, from the Blake Expedition, described 

 by Perrier. 



It was taken by the Blake at nine stations in 56 to 183 fathoms, 

 among the Lesser Antilles, and at two stations in the Gulf of 

 Mexico, off West Florida, in 95 and 101 fathoms. The Albatross 

 also took it at many stations. 



It was obtained by the Bahama Expedition, off Havana, in 110 

 and 200 fathoms (stations 4 and 13), and off East Florida, in 

 110 fathoms (station 64, 6 specimens). 



Stephanasterias hebes Verrill, sp. nov. 



Plate ix; figure 3. 



General appearance and size much as in S. alhula, but stouter 

 with less numerous and less delicate spines. 



The adambulacral spines form two perfectly regular divergent 

 rows. They are relatively short and not very slender, terete or 

 slightly clavate and blunt. The ambulacral furrow is relatively 

 very wide and the sucker feet large. Owing to the shortness of 

 the spines and width of the groove, the adambulacral spines 

 cover only a small part of its margins. 



The interactinal and inferomarginal spines are much larger 

 and stouter than the adambulacrals and much more so that in 

 8. aTbula. They are about twice longer and more than twice 

 thicker than the adambulacrals adjacent. They are clavate, with 

 rounded or obtuse tips, not so thorny as in S. alhula, nor so trans- 

 lucent. The dorsal spines are similar, but shorter, arranged in 

 close clusters on the plates. 



Taken by the Albatross at station 2766, in — fathoms. (No. 

 18,426, Nat. Mus.) 



This is very much stouter than S. gracilis, with much larger 

 and more clavate spines. 



