26 



OPHIUR.E. 



rally off the east coast of Scotland, it is frequent. It is 

 found among the Hebrides, in the estuary of the Clyde, 

 and Mr. P. Maclagan sends me it from Ayrshire. In the 

 Irish Sea it is rather scarce ; but is common, according to 

 Mr. Thompson, on a sandy bottom in the north-east and 

 south of Ireland. 



In Stewart's Elements of Natural History it is stated 

 that this Sand-star " is supposed to be the cause of the in- 

 juries sometimes received from eating muscles, which at 

 certain times of the year feed upon it."' 1 There are no 

 grounds for this absurd notion, nor have I ever met with 

 any persons who entertained it. 





