554 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
described to me which were apparently hybrids between the two species; but I have never seen such, 
nor any individuals, however small, which could not readily be assigned to the proper species. Even 
when only 10 mm. in diameter, forbad has a much stouter appearance. Young specimens of vulgaris ■ 
were taken in August off Gay Head and Cuttyhunk, as well as at Crab Ledge, and off Sankaty Head. 
Most of the adults taken in the Woods Hole region are less than 180 mm. in diameter. The best 
specimens that we collected were taken at Crab Ledge. The habits and development of vulgaris do 
not seem to differ essentially from those of forbesi, though some slight differences in the early stages : 
have been noted by Alexander Agassiz (’77). The larval stages have been well described by Field 
(’92), and further points have been carefully investigated by Goto (’98). As in the case of forbesi, the 
great, variety of color does not seem to be associated with either age, sex, or environment. All of the 
earlier writers regarded this species as identical with Asterias rubens of Europe. Stimpson, early in 
1863, first, suggested in a private letter that, it might prove distinct, and proposed the name vulgaris, but 
he gave no description. Later in the same year Alexander Agassiz proposed the name pallidas, but 
gave no adequate description. Still later Packard used the name vulgaris Stimpson, in a published list, 
but he also failed to give a description. Finally, in 1866, Yerrill published a description under the 
name vulgaris Stimpson. Clearly, however, Stimpson’ s name is the barest kind of a nomen nudum, 
and Verrill is properly the describer of the species. Whether it is really distinct from Asterias rubens, 
however, has never yet. been proved, and Verrill (’76) now thinks they may prove identical. 
3. Asterias tenera, Stimpson (pi. 2, figs. 5-7; pi. 4, figs. 20, 21). 
Asterias tenera Stimpson, 1862, p. 269. 
Asterias enmpta Stimpson, 1862, p. 270. 
? Asteracanthion flaccida A. Agasriz, 1863. 
Leptasterias compta Verrill, 1873. 
Leptasterias tenera Verrill, 1874. 
Asterias ( Leptasterias ) compta Sladen, 1889. 
Description . — Rays 5, rarely 4 or 6. R=30 to 40mm., r=4 to 7 mm., R=6 to 7 r. Breadth of ray 
near base, 5 to 10 nun., R=4 to 6 hr. Rays not flattened, nearly terete, slender and pointed. Disk 
small. Interbrachial arcs acute. Abactinal area covered by a fine network of narrow plates with 
rather large meshes, forming an open but fairly firm skeleton, with no clearly defined median row on 
the ray. All the plates carry prominent, though rather delicate, spines about, 1 mm. Jong, more or less 
rough and pointed at the tip. These spines, except on the disk, are encircled at or near the base by 
more or less complete wreaths of blunt pedicel lariie; the contrast between disk and rays in this 
respect is often marked. Pedicellariae most numerous near the tip of the ray. On sides and actinal 
surface of rays, the spines are somewhat larger and tend to form longitudinal series of single spines 
placed side by side. There are generally four such series quite clearly defined, of which the one 
nearest the ambulacral furrow consists of the largest spines. In all the series the spines are more or 
less densely wreathed with pedicellarise which become more numerous approaching the ambulacral 
furrow or passing toward the tip of the ray. Adambulacral plates with 1 or 2 slender spines 2 mm. 
long; at middle of ray plates carrying 1 spine tend to alternate regularly with those carrying 2, but 
at both base and tip of ray the plates more frequently bear a single spine. Adambulacral spines 
with numerous pedicellarife which often form wreaths about the spines near the middle. Similar 
pedieellarke also occur on the adambulacral plates within the furrow. Adambulacral plates rather 
less numerous than in vulgaris; a specimen with R=18 mm. has about 60 plates on each side of 
the furrow; another with R=24 has about 68 plates, and in one with R=37 there are about 100. 
Oral spines not peculiar. Papular areas of moderate size, with few papulae, usually 1 or 2, in each 
area. Madrepore plate small, with few, rather wide furrows, surrounded by an imperfect circle of 
6 or 8 spines. Tube feet quadriserial, but not crowded. Color in life varying from purplish-pink to 
nearly white, the smallest ones having the least color; madrepore plate and spines nearly white. 
Range . — Nova Scotia to New Jersey; in 14 to 85 fathoms. 
Remarks . — This small starfish is very common off Sankaty Head, but we did not collect any speci- 
mens at Crab Ledge, nor has it been taken in Vineyard Sound. Verrill (’73) records it from south 
of Marthas Vineyard in 20 to 25 fathoms. A careful study of Stimpson’s (’67) original descriptions 
of tenera, based on 20 specimens from Massachusetts Bay, and compta, based on a single individual 3 
inches in diameter, has convinced me that, the two forms are identical, and this belief is confirmed by a 
comparison of numerous specimens, undoubtedly tenera, taken off Sankaty Head, with 2 large specimens 
(72 mm. in diameter) labeled compta in the collection of the Fish Commission from outside the Woods 
