4S8 RADIATA. ASTERIAD.E. Ophiura 



Gen. X. OPHIURA. — Suckers placed along the sides of the 

 arms. 



28. O. granulata. — Body dorsally destitute of scales, but 

 closelv covered with minute tubercles. 



ml 



Stella scolopendrioides granulata, Linck, 50, t. xxvi. No. 43. — Asterias 

 nigra, Mull. Zoo\. Dan. t. xciii. f. 1-4. Flem. Edin. Phil. Journ. 

 vol. viii. p. 301 — Kirkwall Bay, Orkney. 



The body is rounded, depressed, black ; between each ray at the base, oral- 

 ly, there is a triangular scale ; the rays taper gradually ; the scales are trans- 

 verse, simple, and a little rounded on the edge ; the spines on the sides are a- 

 little longer than the diameter of the ray, five or six in the transverse rows, 

 with one or two imperfect ones at the base on the oral surface. 



29. O. bracteata. — Body dorsally imbricated with smooth 

 scales. 



Stella scol. bracteata, Linck, 50. and 81, t. xxxvii. No. 68. — Ast. lacertosa, 

 Perm. Br. Zool. iv. p. 03, No. 62, t. xxxii. f. 62. — A. ophiura, Turt. Br. 



Faun. p. 140, No. 132. Stewart, El. p. 401, No. 8 Not rare in sandy 



bays. 



This is a small species, the body seldom exceeding a quarter of an inch,, 

 the rays exceeding an inch. On each side of the rays at the base, dorsally, 

 there is a broad scale, with a pectinated edge. Between each ray at the base, 

 orally, a smooth scale ; rays with imbricated triangular scales, those on the 

 sides pectinated with very short blunt spines. When these last are rubbed 

 off, the rays appear not unlike the tail of a lizard. 



30. O. bracMata. — Body dorsally, with oval scales in the al- 

 ternate broad and narrow rays. 



Asterias brach. Mont. Linn. Trans, vii. p. 84 In sand, Salcomb Bay. 



The arms are disproportional, reaching to 8 inches, while the body is 

 scarcely half an inch. This circumstance induces me to conclude that it 

 is the " Stella scolopendroides hirsuta seu grallatoria, vel Macrosceles Lui- 

 dii" of Linck, p. 50. (the Asterias minuta of Penn. Br. Zool. iv. p. 63, No. 61.> 

 Luid calls it, " Stella geniculate hirsuta, quinis radiis exilibus prolongis ex 

 orbiculata modiola prorumpentibus," ib. p. 81. At the junction of each arm, 

 according to Montagu, are two oblong smooth plates ; the spines of the arms 

 from eight to nine in each transverse row. The scales on the arms, orally, 

 near their base, are bisulcated longitudinally. The body between the arms 

 is rough with minute papilla?. 



31. O. Bellls. — Body dorsally with separate round scales,, the 

 intervals with short, blunt, small tubercles. 



Stella scolopendroides, Bellis scolopendrica, Linck, 52, t. xl. f. 71- As- 

 terias aculeata, Midler, Zool. Dan. t. xcix. f. 1-3. Flan. Edin. Phil. 

 Journ. vol. viii. p. 298. — Scottish coast, not uncommon. 

 The body is pentagonal, with usually a coloured border ; mai'gin with mi- 

 nute warts ; the arms, above, with oval scales, surrounded with a moniliform 

 ring, — below, the scales are emarginate on the distal and proximal edges ; 

 the spines not equal to the diameter of the arm, five or six in the row, blunt 

 and smooth — This and the following species seem a favourite food for cod- 

 fish, as we have found great numbers in the stomach, both on the north and 

 west coasts. 



1 



