4,66 



Ophiiira bracledta. 



a, Ophiiira bracteata, natural size ; b, a small portion of the body and ray magnified, to show 

 the pectinated scales ; c, a small portion of the ventral surface magnified, to show the fiddle- 

 shaped scales. 



the space between the insertion of the rays covered with small 

 white scales, and a large . fiddle-shaped one placed inwards. 

 Oral aperture in five triangular partitions, with pectinated 

 margins : at the base of each section there are two small oval 

 pectinated apertures through which the tentacular filaments 

 are protruded, one from each hole. The specimen chosen 

 for our figure is remarkable for its size, being twice as large 

 as any other I have seen, and fully equal to that figured by 

 Risso from the shores of the southern parts of Europe. It 

 is eight tenths of an inch in breadth, and the length of the 

 ray is 2^ in., whereas the usual diameter of the body is about 

 four tenths, and the length of the rays 1 in. It may be noticed 

 that only one ray is perfect : the others have been broken 

 short by some accident, and three of them are about repairing 

 their loss by the reproduction of new apices. The colour is 

 in general a reddish brown marbled with lighter shades ; and 

 the large scales are frequently white. 



