LONG-ARMED RRITTLE-STAR. 



45 



OPIIIURIDJE. 



OPIIWRM. 



THE LONG-ARMED BRITTLE-STAR. 

 Ojphiocoma brachiata. Montagu. 



Specific Character. — Disk round, or subpentangular, notched, imbricated above 

 with small smooth scales ; sides rough. Two oblong diverging plates opposite 

 the base of each ray. Rays very long. Upper ray- scales transversely oblong ; 

 lateral ray-plates, each bearing eight or nine thick obtuse spines, which are 

 shorter than the breadth of the ray. 



Astcrias brachiata, Montagu, Linn. Trans. VII. p. 84. 



Ophiura brachiata, Fleming, Brit. An. p. 488. Blainv. Man. d'Actin. p. 243. 



Among the most ardent investigators of the animals of 

 the British seas, Colonel Montagu stands conspicuous. 

 Whilst the discoveries of other sea-searching naturalists 

 are too often dubious and unsatisfactory, owing to the 



