148 A DAY ON THK CROUCH RIVER. 



were so brilliantly deep purple as I had seen them in the Ijlackwater 

 in the spring. Several of the larger stinging Cyancea capillata were 

 noticed, and the slippery crystal globes of Cydippe pomiformis were 

 not uncommon. 



Six species of Echinodermata were found. The Common Sand- 

 star {Ophiog/ypha ciliata) in great abundance, many hundreds in 

 some hauls, the writhing and squirming of so many flexible arms 

 presenting a curious spectacle. The Lesser Sand-star ((9. albidd) also 

 occurred with it, but it was much scarcer. Within certain limits the 

 disks of these two species varied much in colour. The Common 

 Brittle-star Ophiothrix petitaphyUutn, Penn. {rosula, Link), was by no 

 means common, only two or three specimens being noticed. The 

 Five-finger { Uraster rubens) was far too abundant in our host's eyes ; 

 in one haul of the dredge as many as seventy-five were brought in, 

 all young and violet coloured ; they turn orange and red later. One 

 violet coloured fellow might have been Uraster violacea, if that species 

 be really distinct from U. rubens; it was the only large violet one caught 

 during the day. The "Five-finger" is a great oyster enemy, sucking 

 out the animal and leaving only "a clock " behind. The voracious 

 Sun-star {Solnsfer papposa), was not common, but all were very 

 bright in colour ; specimens with eleven, twelve and thirteen rays 

 were brought home. The only Sea-urchin met with was the purple- 

 tipped species {^Echinus ?iu7iaris), and this occurred commonly — 

 again too commonly — from the size of a sixpence to that of a five- 

 shilling piece (Forbes says it attains if inch sometimes). 



The " ross " already spoken of consists of the crowded tubes of a 

 Serpula, I believe Filograna implexa, and all that were noticed as 

 "live," i.e., containing the living worms, was well crushed under foot. 

 Neplitys'M'xiS. Nereis were common amongst the "rubbish " or "stuff," 

 but the only other Annelid that calls for mention was a living speci- 

 men of Pectinaria l>elgica, dredged on the sandy bottom off Holly- 

 well. The smooth, sandy conical tube was a large one, and the beau- 

 tiful orange comb (branchial cilia) of the enclosed worm, which 

 Gosse says "seems to be made of burnished gold," was soon shown 

 busy at work when the worm was placed in a small bottle of sea- 

 water. Mr. Crouch was on the look-out for tubes of TerebellidiC or 

 Sabella, as likely to contain minute shells, but none turned up. 



Several Polyzoa were noticed, but they were not well known to 

 us. Dead Lepralice were very common on the shells of oysters, mus- 

 sels, whelks, the carapaces of the various crab.s, and on Laminaria 



