74 STAR-FISHES OF BANFF. 



the hook. I have obtained them a foot across, and, have been told by the 

 fishermen that the}- have seen them much larger. I have obtained them with 

 three vei-y unequal raj's. 



Violet Cross-fish. {U raster violacea.) Plentiful, but not so common as the 

 former species. 



Ej'ed Cribella {Cribella oculata.) 



Rosy Cribella. (Crihella rosea.) 



Purple Sun-Star. (Solaster endeca.) Rather common. I have obtained some 

 of these of a cream colour above, with a few purplish dots scattered over the 

 body. 



Common Sun-Star. [Solaster papposa.) Very common. I have one before 

 me measuring seven inches across, with thirteen rays ; another five inches, 

 with fourteen rays ; and a third six inches and a half, with twelve full-grown 

 rays and two incipient rays ; three full-grown rays are between them. 

 Whether the fvill-grown rays had been broken off, and these two are now 

 growing in their places, it is difficult to say. There is, however, no appear- 

 ance of the loss of the rays. I obtained a second specimen of the same 

 kind, but did not preserve it. The colours of this "rare fish" were most 

 splendid. In the centre was a dark red space, with tubercles of the same 

 colour. Round this was a ring of a paler red, with the tubercles almost 

 white. To this succeeded a ring of a darker red, similar to the central space, 

 with red tubercles interspersed with white. Around the edge was a very pale 

 red ring, shading into white between the rays, with the tubercles white. The 

 rays were ringed much in the same way. With regard to the madreporiform 

 tubercle, the tubercles are so arranged that the fasciculi on them can cover 

 the whole of it, and often have I observed it almost entirely concealed by 

 them. Is this intended as a protection to it ? The short raj's also suggest 

 another question : Have Star-fish the power, not merely of reproducing their 

 broken rays, but have they also the power of adding to the number of their 

 rays? Another thing, which appears to be a "questio vexata" I have to state. 

 It is with regard to the burning sensation felt on touching the Star-fish. 

 Now I must say, that, on taking the one above described into my hand, after 

 it had been for a day and a half lying uncleaned, I distinctly felt a most dis- 

 agreeable burning sensation. I had entirely forgotten what Professor Forbes 

 says on the subject, so that the sensation cannot be attributed to imagination. 

 Bird's-Foot Star-fish. (Palmipes memhranaceus.) I have obtained three 

 specimens of this beautiful Star-fish, all from deep water, brought up by the 

 fishermen's hooks. One of them is small, measuring three inches the longest 

 way. The centre and rays, or rather ridges, are red. The margin is of the 

 same colour ; whilst the spaces between the ridges are white, interspersed 

 with red dots. The under side is white, with the exception of a narrow red 

 margin wholly round two of the sides, and half round the other two ; thus 

 leaving one whole side and two half sides white. Another is larger, measuring 



