130 RAVED ECHlNbDERMATA OP BANFFSHIRE. 



evening meal, well knows that it does not take long to do that, especially 

 with such a character as the writer, and bearing in mind, too, that what was 

 termed a new species — a neio animal — was to be looked at. "Now Maggy," 

 I said, the last bit nearly choking me, ^'let 's see this prodigy of yours. Just 

 as I thought, Maggy, it's not a new species; — -it's only an Oplnocoma Ballii, 

 but rather a peculiar one in its having, as you said, 'sax legs' instead of five.' 

 I have now two with six rays, having procured another a few dajs ago. 



Goodsir's Brittle Star, (Ophiocoma Goodsiri.) — Although I have given this 

 species a place here, still I am not altogether sure if we can boast of it or 

 not, but I think we can, though not in any great numbers. 1 have four 

 specimens^ which differ considerably in many essential points from OpJiiocoma 

 Ballii, and which do not agree with any other that I know, except Ophio- 

 coma Goodsiri. I may be in error^ however^ but would be most happy, if 

 I am so, to be corrected. 



Long- armed Brittle Star, (Ophiocoma brachiata.) — These are pretty often 

 got here from haddock's stomachs, but it requires some very nice fingering, 

 and a somewhat cunning hand to get a whole specimen in this way; their 

 long and slender rays being so interwoven with each other, as almost to defy 

 extraction. It is a great pity that the Moray Firth was never dredged by 

 naturalists, as I am led to believe it never was, that is, on a scale worthy 

 of its waters. If such were done, and done as it should be, I am quite sure, 

 from what I know, that many a valuable rarity, and I have no doubt new 

 species^ would be procured, and better got than those already known. If I were 

 but possessed of half the means that some are, it should not long be so; 

 wind and weather permitting, I should have it dredged from the one end to 

 the other, over and over again. Alas! that Nature, that fair and comely 

 damsel, which I supremely admire, and love so well, should have called me 

 into existence at the very moment when Want and Starvation stood hand in 

 hand, ready to stamp the unconscious and little heir of immortality with their 

 accursed brands. Money, it is said, is the root of all evil; but tell me, ye 

 who know, what the want of it is? But to return. 



Thread-rayed Brittle Star, (Ophiocoma filiformis.) — This is another doubtful 

 species here, at least so far as I and my list are concerned; but if the dredge 

 were used, it might not long be thus. I remember once taking from the 

 stomach of a large Turbot, {Rhombus maximus,) which was caught at a place 

 called the 'bank,' or out sea-fishing, the remains of an Ophiocoma, which I 

 considered to be that o^ filiformis; but being in fragments I could not make 

 much of it. It differed considerably, however, both in the disk and rays from 

 that of hracliiata, especially in the slenderness of its arms. I have never met 

 with another, but am keeping an eye in that direction. 



Sun Star, (Solaster papposa.) — Frequent. I have seen this species from a 

 bright red to a pale bay, and from having nine rays to upwai'ds of seventeen, 

 and from a size which would have covered the crown of the broadest hat 

 now in use, down to that of a very small lozenge. 



