38 OPITTTTRJE. 



whether littoral or deep sea, — very important points in the 

 economy of Mollusca, — important not only to the mala- 

 cologist, but also to the geologist. Like the Haddock, 

 the Cod also is a great naturalist ; and he, too, carries his 

 devotion to our dear science so far as occasionally to die 

 for its sake with a new species in his stomach, probably 

 with a view to its being described and figured by some 

 competent authority. The Cod is not so much devoted 

 to the Mollusca as to the Echinodermata ; and doubtless 

 his knowledge of the Ophiura? exceeds that of any biped. 

 He has a great taste for that tribe. It was a Cod that 

 communicated the pretty little species I am about to 

 describe, to my friend, Mr. Henry Goodsir, at Anstruther ; 

 and, as far as that gentleman could learn, it would appear 

 the industrious animal had observed and entrapped this 

 new Ophiocoma in the North Sea near the Dogger Bank. 



The Dotted Ophiocoma is a very little species. Its 

 body is only one-eighth of an inch in diameter ; but its 

 rays are very long, being seven times as long as the disk 

 is broad. The disk is pentangular. The upper surface is 

 imbricated with smooth scales, which are rosulated in the 

 centre, the central scale round and large. Opposite the 

 origin of each ray are two long wedge-shaped scales, the 

 basal angles of which touch, but the apices diverge. 

 Beneath, the scales which separate the origins of the 

 rays are ovate, and rather large in proportion to the 

 disk. The rays are long and narrow, six times as long 

 as the disk is broad. Above they are covered with ob- 

 long plates, which present a more or less prominent ridge 

 in the centre, and in front a deep dimple or impression, 

 which is strongest towards the origins of the rays. 

 Their under surfaces are covered with longitudinally 



