This memoir had its inception in 1896 when the writer was made aware of the desire of Mr. I.H. Harris, of Waynesville, Ohio, to present to the institution his extensive collection of Ordovician fossils, which brought to the National Museum 40 Asterids, 35 ophiurids from the Cincinnatic strata and 12 specimens of Onychaster flexilis. The material of the Harris collection study revealed much new knowledge, as well as shedding information on the probable evolution of the Paleozoic starfishes.