I 



RAYKD ECHINODERMATA OF BANFFSIIIRK. X31 



Purple Stin Star, (Solaster endeca.) — Often met with. These, too, are fre- 

 quently of numerous and different shades of colouring, such as pink, red, brown, 

 gray, yellow, and, as its name denotes, purple. 



{Shore?) Grossfish, (Uraster rubens.) — Of all our Crossfishes this is the 

 most frequently met with among our rocks in shore, and sometimes in great 

 numbers. It is also, perhaps, of all its kindred the most variable in form, 

 in regard to the number of its rays. I have seen a large disk with only one 

 arm, and a very long one too. It is not uncommon to find them here 

 with two, three, or four rays, and with both long and short legs on the same 

 disk. One in my collection has two very long arms, whilst other three are 

 just seen, as it were, to be emerging from the disk; another, with two long 

 and two short rays, when set up on the shorter rays, gives the appearance 

 of a miniature sofa in profile. 



Violet Grossfish, (Uraster violacea.) — This species, about as numerous and 

 as A'ariable as the last, takes to and abides in deeper water, at least with 

 us, and are on that account a great pest and nuisance to our fishermen, by 

 becoming attached in vast numbers to their hooks and lines, and no doubt 

 often depriving them of more enviable game. 



Btdthorn, (Asterias aurantiaca.) — Not rare, nor yet abundant. 



Lingthorn, (Luidia fragilissima.) — Similar to the last in numbers. I do 

 not think that it is possible to get a full-grown specimen of this species 

 complete, at least I have never seen it yet. One, in my collection, with 

 seven rays, has one more than a foot long, whilst the others range from 

 eight inches down to one and a half. A friend of mine tells me that 

 he once saw an individual of this species brought on shore, which had only 

 the bare rudiment of a single ray protruding from a large disk, yet this 

 creature was alive, and moved about when put into a basin containing sea- 

 water. 



Bird's-foot Sun Star, (Palmipes membranaceus.) — Eare. A splendid spec- 

 imen was lately procured at Me' Duff, by my friend, the Rev. Mr. Gregor, 

 Teacher, and is now in his collection. It is large, and of a most beautiful 

 pinkish red. 



Knotty Gusliion Star, (Goniaster equestris.) — Occasionally met with, but 

 not so rare as the last. 



Bosy Grihclla, (Cribella rosea.) — More frequently met with than either of 

 the two last named, but by no means numerous. 



M/ed Cribella, (Cribella oculata.) — Well now here is another very doubtful 

 gentleman, eye him as you will, either with one, two, or even five lenses. 

 Here I would again ask. Is there in reality such an animal? or is it merely 

 one of fancy or of mistake? For my own part I am rather inclined to believe 

 that it is either of the two, or perhaps a compound of both; but if not, and if 

 there is actually such a creature, then I think I have found it here on two 

 or three occasions, at least I have met with Gribellas which differed consid- 

 erably from rosea, and which had something of the appearance of what some 



