LESSER SAND-STAR. 



27 



OPHIURIDJE. 



orinun/F,. 



"**^. 



LESSER SAND-STAR, 



Ophiura albida. Forbes. 



Specific Character. — Pectinated scales, clasping the bases of the rays with 

 fewer than sixteen teeth. Inferior intermediate plates with straight sides. La- 

 teral ray-plates with four or five spines on each. 



Ophiura albida, Forbes, Worn, Trans, vol. VIII. p. 125, 



pi. iv. f. 586. 

 Ophiura texturata, 2 eadciu minor albida, Lamarck, Anim. sans Vert. 1 Edit. 



vol. II. p. 542 ; 2 Edit. vol. III. 



p. 221. 



The Lesser Sand-star is more common than the 

 last ; but had long been confounded with it, or passed 

 over as its young, until I separated it from that species 

 under the name of Ophiura albida, giving it that name 

 (though it is not altogether appropriate, seeing that the 

 creature is white only when dried), under the belief that 



