136 ASTERI.E. 



the genus Luidia for the reception of the most remarkable 

 and largest of all our British Starfishes. Generally dis- 

 tributed as this beautiful species appears to be on the 

 shores of Britain, it altogether escaped observation, or 

 rather description, until the year 1836, when Dr. Johnston 

 figured and described it in the Magazine of Natural His- 

 tory under the name of Asterias rubens, with which species, 

 however, it has no relation, being next door neighbour to 

 Asterias aranciaca on the one hand, and the Ophmra on 

 the other. With no native or foreign Starfish can it be 

 confounded. 



I have dedicated the genus to the name of Edward 

 Llhuyd, one of the earliest observers of our native Star- 

 fishes, and from whom Link derived many materials for 

 his work. Llhuyd was born in Carmarthenshire, in the 

 year 1 670 ; was a student of Jesus College, Oxford ; suc- 

 ceeded Dr. Plot as head keeper of the Ashmolean Museum ; 

 travelled for scientific purposes throughout England, Scot- 

 land, Ireland, and Brittany, and died in the year 1709. 

 He was a man of great knowledge and great talent. His 

 studies were extended over large tracts of science and lite- 

 rature, and he enlightened both with his researches and 

 his writings. He united a comprehensive and philosophical 

 mind with an observing eye, and the energy to execute. 

 Amid the multiplicity of his studies there was no confusion. 

 He wrote on insects, plants, fossils, antiquities, and lan- 

 guages ; on all much and well. His principal works were 

 " Lythophylacii Brittanici Ichnographia, 11 and " Archseo- 

 logia Brittanica." Ray praised him. Strange to say his 

 name is omitted in many of our cyclopedias, which devote 

 whole pages to men of less repute. 



The Luidia fragillissima when full grown measures two 

 feet across, and would appear to exceed that size occa- 



