34 STAR-FISH FOUND IN CORNWALL. 



although a few may be found of twice that magnitude. I 

 must therefore refer to Pennant's Ast. hispida as different from 

 the Ast. spinosa described above, as well as from the species 

 given by Dr. Johnston under the name of Ast. ruhens, the 

 figure of which, though slight, is characteristic of one, a 

 description of which I subjoin, as it will supply a few parti- 

 culars not contained in Dr. Johnston's account. 



The diameter of the specimen was eighteen inches, to the 

 extremity of the opposite rays ; of the disk, two inches and 

 three quarters ; below, the proportion of the diameter of the 

 disk to the length of a ray, as one to two and three quarters ; 

 the disk flat ; rays seven, thin and tapering ; breadth of the 

 ray where widest, one and three-tenths of an inch. Skin 

 coriaceous ; on the disk minute spines, several from one base ; 

 those on the rays somewhat larger, but less thickly set ; along 

 the margin of the rays a double row, larger and more elevated 

 than the others. Leg-spines three lines long ; suckers be- 

 neath, in two rows, stout. Hays exceedingly frangible ; two 

 that were broken off, flaccid, especially at the points ; one 

 remaining uninjured, rigid at the tip. Colour reddish orange. 

 In its stomach a purple Spatangus, crushed together. 



I the more despair of finding a proper synonym for this 

 species, that Dr. Johnston has failed in it ; but, as some de- 

 signation is indispensable, I have named it Ast. pectinata, 

 from the minute points which crown the ossicula, and which 

 become distinctly visible only when dry. 



I shall conclude these remarks by the description of a mon- 

 strosity in the common species, — Ast. glacialis, the clam or 

 cramp. It is of the ordinary size, and possesses eight rays ; 

 but to distinguish it from the simple duplication of parts, it 

 possesses three of those circular dorsal organs, the use of 

 which is uncertain, but of which a common specimen pos- 

 sesses only one. These three occupy triangularly, one half 

 of the disk, and seem connected with four of the rays, the 

 other four lying distinct from them. 



This species is in great abundance in spring, being found 

 in multitudes in the fishermens' crab-pots, the baits of which 

 they readily find. As the season becomes warmer they dis- 

 appear, and in summer comparatively few are to be seen. 



Polperro, Cornwall. 



Dece7nher, 1839. 



