of Edinburgh, Session 1881-82. 
699 
be regarded as belonging to the same geographical or isothermal area. 
It is not improbable that, when the Asteroidea of the “ Porcupine ” 
and “ Lightning ” cruises have all been critically examined and the 
results tabulated, in connection with the additional information 
furnished by the “ Challenger ” and other expeditions, that some 
modifications may be necessary in the asterid fauna-lists of the 
respective *areas. Every series of specimens therefore is of especial 
interest and adds further weight and importance to previous observa- 
tions. 
My hearty thanks are due to Mr. John Murray for the opportunity 
of examining this collection, as well as for much information. 
I. List of the Species obtained. 
1. Archaster tenuispinus (Diiben and Koren), Sars. 
Station 8. August 17, 1880. Lat. 60° 3' K, long. 5° 5P W. 
Depth, 540 fathoms ; bottom temperature, 29 0, 2 Fahr. ; surface 
temperature, 5 6° ’5 Fahr. ; ooze. Three examples. 
All fully grown individuals, R< 5 r ; in the largest, II = 73 millim., 
r— 16 ’5 millim. These specimens present many of the characters 
of A. echinulatus , Perrier, which is perhaps only a locational variety 
of the northern species, — at any rate a representative form. 
2. Archaster bifrons, Wyville Thomson. ( Archaster bifrons, , Wyv. 
Thom. (1873), The Depths of the Sea , p. 122, figs. 17 and 74). 
Station 7. Aug. 12, 1880. Lat 59° 37 ; K, long. 7° 19' W. 
Depth, 530 fathoms. Three examples. 
This elegant and well marked form was named by Sir Wyville 
Thomson in his account of the “ Porcupine ” cruise in The Depths of 
the Sea ; and two admirable woodcuts are there given, unaccompanied, 
however, by any description. As no diagnosis of this species has yet 
been published, the following summary of details will not be out of 
place : — 
Archaster bifrons. — Radii five, elongate, moderately broad at the 
base, tapering continuously to a finely pointed extremity. Inter- 
brachial angles widely rounded. Minor radial proportion 23*3 per 
cent., R = 90 millim., r — 21 millim. R>4 \r. Radii 25 millim. 
broad at the base. 
Paxilhe of the dorsal area minute, crowded, bearing 20 to 25 
