%
! ü li
determine to some extent its range of variation : this, as wc might
have expected, is most markedly presented by the characters of the
spinous protuberances formed by the hypertrophy of some of the
granules on the ahactinal surface ; the smallest specimen is without
anv special spines. Of three larger and snhequal specimens, th at
which is a little the smallest has a more prominent granule developed
here and there along the middle lines of the rays, and some
six, still more prominent, at the centre of the disk ; the other two
have much more prominent spinous granules at what may he called
the base of the rays, aud some smaller protuberances around the
centre of the disk ; these latter are, in the largest specimen ^of aU,
quite inconspicuous. 11 is about equal to 2 r ; E = 72, 58 ; r= 3 4 , 27.
Arms 29 or 26 millim. wide at the base, narrowing hardly at all
till quite near their end ; marginal plates very well developed, equal
in either series, and 13 or 14 in number ; pedicellariæ scarce.
The central region of the disk is not distinctly elevated ; with
increase in size the ossicles of the ahactinal surface become less
closely packed than in the smaller forms ; and three rows of ossicles
can be quite distinctly made out ; the investing granulation is not
especially coarse ; tho intervening pores may be set singly or disposed
in groups of three or four. With increase in size, likewise,
the boundary line between the two sets of marginal plates hec,omes
more distinct ; from the angle of the arm outwards the supero-
marginals increase in breadth till the last two or three, hut they are
always at least twice as long as they are broad ; the terminal two
or three touch in the middle line. The infero-marginals are a little
stouter, but have otherwise much the same proportions as the upper
series.
The intermediate plates are distinct from one another and are
covered by large distinct grannies. The innermost row of adamhulacral
spines are 6 or 7 in number, and are more delicate than the two
stouter ones which are placed outside them ; those of the outermost
row are smaller and more irregular, and are not easily distinguished
from the grannies of the ventral plates.
Madreporic plate rather large, distinct, | to g r distant from the
centre ; the anus often distinguished by its periphery of eight or
ten small plates.
The dried specimens are yellowish or light slate-coloured ; hut
there is no information as to what is their colour when alive or
fresh.
The species is very distinct from P. dilaiatus of Perrier, which
species has perhaps been founded on forms wEich were only varieties
of the Astrogonium miliare of Gray.
Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 3 -5 fms. ; sand.
19. Dorigona longimana,
Pentagonaster longimanus, Perrier, p. 228.
Percy Island, Queensland; Prince of Wales Channel, Aug. 1881,
7 fms.
20. Asterina belcheri.
Perrier, p. 320.
With four madreporites.
Port Jackson, 0 -4 fms.
This is the first locality that has been given for this species.
I
Perrier, p. 296.
Port Jackson.
21. Asterina calcar.
22. Asterina cepheus.
Asperiscus cepheus, M. ^ Tr. Sgst. Ast. p. 41.
Asterina cephea, Perrier, p. 315.
I follow Prof. Perrier in using Muller and Troschel’s specific name,
on the ground that, though Gray’s name burtoni has the precedence
by two years, the “ type ” is not to be found, and the description is
useless for any purposes of identification. As cepheus is obviously a
proper name, I prefer to use it without making any alterations in
its termination.
Thursday Island.
23. Asterina gunnii.
Perrier, p. 298.
A small specimen from Port Molle.
4 r : II
24. Asterina regnlaris.
Verrill, Trans. Connecticut Acad. i. p. 250.
A small specimen : Port Molle.
A good series in sp irit: Port Jackson.
What seems to be a youug specimen of this species was also taken
at Port Jackson.
25. Asterina (Nepanthia) brevis. (P la te V III. figs. A, A'.)
Perrier, p. 321.
As Prof. Perrier’s description would appear to he based on a single
small dried specimen in the British Museum, I give the measurements
of two specimens preserved in spirit :—
B = 3 2 , 4 4 ; r = 9 , 12; or B = 2 -7 or 2 -8r,
and a figure of the largest specimen.
Albany Island (8 fms., sand and mud) ; Thursday Island (4 fms.,
coral).
Perrier, p. 326.
Port Curtis.
26. Patiria crassa, Gray.
is : (
'if
(!