LESSER SAND-STAR. 29 



diately proceeds to change it by raising its body to a per- 

 pendicular and tumbling over. This it effects by bending 

 two or three of the rays into an arch, leaving the others 

 straight and spread out. 



It frequents oyster-beds and sandy places probably on 

 all our coasts. Mr. Bean says it inhabits deep water at 

 Scarborough. I find it on most parts of the Scottish 

 coast, and abundant in the Irish Sea. Mr. Thompson 

 says it is common on a sandy bottom on the coast of 

 Down and Antrim, and adds the following note : — " At 

 Portaferry on one occasion, and in the month of October, 

 we dredged up a considerable number of the alhlda and 

 not one of the texturata. The Ophiura albida is very 

 valuable in colour, presenting many shades of grey, brown, 

 and red. The only white any of them exhibited on the 

 upper surface, was a narrow stripe on each side of the base 

 of the rays, and this was present in every one of them." 



It is common also in Dublin Bav, and on the west coast 

 of Ireland. 



