Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 30.djvu/217

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Farquhar.—On New Zealand Starfishes.
187
Semo clypeatus, Buchanan White, Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. 15, p. 217.
Pale ochreous-brown, marked with darker on the head, scutellum, and abdomen. Length, 4–5 mm.

Hab. Otago.


Agandecca annectens, Buchanan White, Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. 15, p. 218.
Reddish. Tegmina yellowish, the veins marked with

whitish; commissure of clavus, from the middle to the apex,

piceous. Length, 5 mm.

Hab. Otago.


Ricania australis, Walker, Cat. Homop. in B.M., p. 430 (Pochazia).
Ferruginous. Tegmina slightly tawny, the fore border near the base testaceous, margin and two imperfect bands brown; wings margined with brown. Length, 5 mm.

Hab. Auckland, probably introduced from Australia.


Cona cælata, Buchanan White, Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. 15, p. 218.
Pale-brown, variegated with darker; keels of the head, pronotum, and scutellum generally red. Tegmina hyaline, more or less clouded with brown. Length, 4-6 mm.

Hab. Auckland.


Art. XXII.—Notes on New Zealand Starfishes.
By H. Farquhar.
Communicated by E. Lukins.
[Read before the Nelson Philosophical Society, 30th August, 1897.]

Asterias calamaria, Gray.

This is a very variable species, and reminds one of the variations of A. rubens, as described by Professor Bell, Ann. and Mag, Nat. Ilist. (6), vii., p. 469 (1891). There are at least two well-marked forms—a large, coarse variety with stout rays, covered with thick skin, having short, stout, truncated, irregular spines on the abactinal surface, often in groups of three or four closely packed together, each group surrounded by a wreath of pedicellaríae at the base, the rows of spines often interrupted; and a more delicate variety, with long, thín, tapering, flexible rays covered with thin skin, the

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