73 



NOTES ON STAR-FISHES FOUND IN THE MORAY FRITH, AT 

 MACDUFF, NEAR BANFF. 



BY W. . /^A ■ t 



(Concluded from page 233, vol. i\.J I T V^ 



Lesser Sand-Star. (Ophiura alhida.) This Star-fish is frequently reiifi4(; 

 All the specimens I have are from deep water. 



Gray Brittle-Star. {OpMoGom.a neglecta.) Common within tide marks. 



Daisy Brittle-Star. {OpJdocoma hellis.) This species is again introduced, for 

 the purpose of correcting an error in the former part, {OiMocoma rosuhx,) and 

 for the purpose of describing others that were lately obtained. One of them 

 is a gem. It is of a reddish colour, with a pentangular Avhite space in the 

 centre of the disk. One would say that this white space is a Knotty Cushion- 

 Star in miniature. The rays are also of the same reddish colour, crossed by 

 bands of a darker red. The disk is three-eighths of an inch across, and the 

 rays are one and one-fourth inch long. Another measures half-an inch across, 

 with rays fully one and one-half inch long. The disk is white, with a margin 

 of a reddish colour. The rays are of the same colour, crossed by darker 

 bands. A third is wholly of a dirty whitish coloui', with scarcely any red 

 bands on the rays. Its disk is about three fourths of an inch in diameter. 



Common Brittle-Star. (Ophiocoma rosula.) This species is rather plentiful, 

 and of all colours, — red, yellow, variegated, &c. Lately I obtained one with 

 a blue disk and reddish rays, which are crossed by bands of a darker red. 

 With respect to the spines, they ai'e scarcely twice the breadth of the ray ; 

 and I find, after careful examination, that they are of different lengths ; the 

 lowermost one on each plate being the shortest, and the others increasing in 

 length to the second from the uppermost, which is the longest. 



Sand Brittle-Star. {Ophiocoma mimita.) Mr. T. Edwards has got several of 

 this species. 



Three-rayed Brittle-Star. {Ophiocoma JiUformis.) This is a veiy doubtful 

 species in the Frith. 



The Long-armed Brittle-Star. {Ophiocoma hrachiata.) This one is pretty 

 frequently met with in stomachs. Some time ago, I obtained one from the 

 crevices in the shell of a Avorn Cijprina Icelandica. It was twisted and turned 

 into the holes and passages between the outside plates of the shell in a most 

 astonishing manner, so that it was with the greatest difficulty that it could 

 be extracted from what may veritably be called a labyrinth. It was of a bright 

 red colour. 



Common Cross-fish. {Uraster rubens.) "Cross Fit." This is the most 

 common of all the Star-fish. It is the pest of the fishermen. It seizes the 

 bait, and in so doing lies right across the line, and keeps it close to the bot- 

 tom, among the mud, weeds, &c., and thus prevents the fish from catching 

 VOL. v. E 



