1084 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
usually regular, series of 4 -sided plates with rounded corners and slightly excavated sides. These 
small plates imbricate in the longitudinal direction, and each is joined to its neighbor of the adjacent 
series by a transverse, much smaller ossicle, the series being separated from each other by about 
one-half the width of a plate. There are 7 rows of these larger plates; namely, a radial, an adradial, a 
superomarginal, and an inferomarginal. Adjacent to adambulacral plates is a row of small plates, of 
which 2 correspond to each inferomarginal plate, to which every pair of intermediate plates is joined" 
smaller than the others. ( PI. xxx, fig. la. ) 
Adambulacral plates are much smaller than the actinal plates, and are set obliquely as regards their j 
dorsoventral direction, the outer end of the proximal plate underlying the adoral end of the succeeding 
plate. The actinal surface of each plate is wider than long, and between the plates are conspicuous | 
sutures, all being hidden by the thick skin. Armature consists of a furrow series of 3 short, equal, 
spinelets, flattened and with rounded tips. The spinelets stand nearly parallel, and are invested by a 
continuous membrane extending from the inner mouth spines to tip of ray. The edge of this mem- 
brane or skin is serrated by the tips of the spinelets. Surface of spinelets is plane, not grooved, on 
the inner side. On actinal surface of about every other plate is an upright, robust, slightly compressed 
spinelet about 1 mm. in length. It is invested, also, in membrane, except the rounded roughened tip. 
On actinal surface of mouth plates these spinelets are slightly larger (1.5 mm.) . 
Terminal plate of arm tubercular, armed with 3 or 4 minute granules or spinelets. Madreporicf 
body circular, perfectly plane, situated rather nearer margin than midway between it and center of 
disk; marked by fine radiating striations. Anal aperture very inconspicuous except in dried speci-1 
mens. It is surrounded by a number of minute spinelets, wholly obscured by the integument in 
alcoholic specimens. 
Color in life: Abactinal surface and sides a deep maroon purple, with a decided magenta tint at 
the' ends of arms. The purple tends somewhat to pansy purple, but is hardly so blue. Actinal^ 
surface maroon purple, the series of actinal adambulacral spinelets phlox purple. Tube feet deep 
cadmium yellow. In alcohol all the color is lost, and the specimen becomes a dirty faded yellow. 
Localities: Type (no. 21179, U. S. National Museum) from station 4149, vicinity of Bird Island, 
33-71 fathoms, coral and coralline; bottom temperature 77.7° (surface temperature 78°). Taken also 
at the following stations, in all, 8 specimens: 
Record of localities. 
Station. 
Locality. 
Depth. 
Nature of bottom. 
Auau Channel, between Maui and Lanai islands 
Fathoms. 
43-32 
Yellow sand, pebbles, coral. 
Fine gray sand. 
Coarse brown coral . sand, forami- 
nifera. 
Coral sand, pebbles, shells. 
do 
65-34 
4198 
Vicinity of Kauai Island 
About 68 
4164 
Vicinity of Bird Island 
40-56 
This strikingly colored starfish is a shallow-water form. The genus contains 5 other species: 
L. coriaceus (Peters), Querimba Island, Mauritius; L. glaber (Peters), Querimba Island; L. leachi 
(Gray), Mauritius; L. speciosus von Martens, off Flores and Fiji islands; L. teres (Verrill), La Paz, 
Lower California. The present species is apparently nearest L. glaber from Querimba Island, but the 
original description of Peters is too incomplete to lend much aid in determining the specific differences. 
Genus LINCKIA Nardo. 
Linckia Nardo, De Asteriis, Oken’s Isis, 1834,’ p. 717. Type, Linckia lypus Nardo —Linckia Isevigatci (Gmelin) 1788. 
Cribrella Agassiz, Mem. Soc. Sei. Nat. Neuehatel, t. I, 1835, p.191. 
Key to Hawaiian species of Linckia. 
a. Spinelets bordering ambulacral furrow alternately larger and smaller. Occasionally a third aboral 
granule is present in these adambulacral series ; 2 madreporie bodies djplax 
aa. Spinelets bordering ambulacral furrow about equal, but separated by a perpendicular series of 4 
or 5 granules; 2 madreporie bodies. multifora 
