Report on the zoological collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean ...

;128 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA.13. Oreaster nodosus.Asterias nodosa, Li7mceus, Si/st. Nat. ed. xii. p. 1100,Pentaceros turritus, Perrier, p. 240.Pine specimens from 4 fms., Port Denison.14. Oreaster, sp.A single dried specimen of a very interesting and, apparentl}%new form was also collected at Port Denison. Unfortunately, inthe process of drying the disk has so fallen in as to completely alterwhat must have been a very different height in the living specimen,and, as may be supposed, the lophial line has also suffered.15. Stellaster belcheri.Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 76.Port Curtis.16. Stellaster incei.Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 76.A fine series of dried specimens was collected, and HjS there aresome in which E was no more than 30 millim., while in others itwas equal to 95 millim., we are able to see the great variability inthe number and presence of the spinous tubercles, which may bevery feebly or exceedingly well developed.This is not one of those species in which we find that the smalleror younger specimens are the more richly provided with tubercles ;but with this we have to correlate (1) the solidity of the skeleton,and (2) the small size and consequent slight defensive power ofthese tubercles, even when they are well developed.One specimen, which, unfortunately, is very much injured, has a" greater radius " of as much as 120 miUim.Port Molle ; Port Curtis (5-11 fms.) ; Port Denison (6 fms.)Albany Island (6 fms.) ; Thursday Island ; and Arafura Sea.17. Pentagonaster coppingeri.This species belongs to the Astrocjonium section of the genus asarranged by Prof. Perrier, for the two rows of marginal plates arerichly provided with granules, and with one or two larger granuleswhich can hardly be called spines.Arms five. 11= 91, r = 46. Arms 24 millim. wide at base, narrowingrather rapidly ; marginal plates exceedingly well developed ;pedicellariaj reduced.The central region of the disk is a little elevated, the thicknessthere being about double that of the margin of the disk ; the wholeabactinal surface consists of a close arrangement of ossicles, thesurfaces of which are coarsely granulated ; the granules are a little