WEST INDIAN STAEFISHES 91 



oval plates, covered with a granulation much like that of the 

 actinal side. The plates are rather prominent and distinct. 



No papulae are found below the inf eromarginal plates ; between 

 the marginal and dorsal rows there are six regular rows of pap- 

 ular areas, each having two to four pores. 



The disk has ten distinct radial and interradial plates. 



Interactinal plates are smaller than the marginals, arranged 

 in few regular rows, without papulae between them, but defined 

 by the rather large rounded granules that closely and regularly 

 cover them. 



The adambulacral plates bear two contiguous rows of spines; 

 those of the inner marginal row are small, regular, and equal ; in 

 the outer row each group has a much larger, obtuse median spine 

 and a small flat one each side of it. 



On the interradial areas are two rows of interactinal plates 

 that bear spines similar to those of the outer adambulacral spines 

 but smaller ; some of them bear f ossate pedicellariae, having spat- 

 ulate valves. The second row is, however, in the young speci- 

 men, feebly developed with few plates. 



Straits of Florida, in 123 feet (Perrier, Coll. Mus. Comp. 

 ZooL). Probably 123 fathoms was intended. Off E. Florida, 

 277 fathoms, Albatross collection. 



Ophidiaster alexandri Verrill, sp. nov. 



Plate xiii : figures 3, 3a, 3h. Details. Plate xxv ; figure 2. Type. 



Disk small, rays regularly tapered, subacute. Radii of the 

 type ll™m gji^j 60°^™ ; ratio, 1 :5.5. The upper and lateral surfaces 

 of the rays have five very regular and nearly equal rows of some- 

 what prominent plates, closely united radially, but so openly 

 and regularly united transversely as to leave nearly square pap- 

 ular areas, which form very regular rows. They contain about 

 eight to ten pores. 



' The disk is somewhat convex. It has a set of basal radial 

 and interradial plates, and a central, larger than those of the 

 rays, and a little swollen. 



The madreporic plate is large, round, flat, covered with fine 

 radiating gyri. The whole surface of the plates and the papular 

 areas is covered with a fine even granulation, above and below. 



