GIBBOUS STARLET. 121 



Mr. W. Thompson says it is found all around the coast 

 in pools among- the rocks at low water ; such would appear 

 to be its locality everywhere. I have never heard of a 

 specimen being taken by the dredge. The differences in 

 the rise and fall of tides, which so materially affect the 

 localities of other species, do not appear to change its 

 habitation. This species extends its range to the Medi- 

 terranean, where it is common, and probably occurs on all 

 the shores of Europe. Blainville has separated it into two 

 species, Asterias minuta and Asterias pulchella, and figures 

 the last in the Fauna Frangaise ; but I cannot find good 

 specific distinction between them, and (after having ex- 

 amined specimens of each) regard them as specifically 

 identical. A nearly allied form is found on the west coast 

 of South America. 



The vignette is a view of Belfast Bay, from a sketch by 

 my friend Mr. Thompson, whose observations have made 

 it a classical locality to the zoologist. 



