FROM THE EDDYSTONE GROUNDS TO START POINT. 465 



taken on many other grounds, both where the deposit was gravel and 

 where it was fine sand. 



Habits. Solaster iKipiJOSits creeps on hard gi-ound. Its food consists chiefly of molhiscs, 

 which appear to be generally digested outside the body by the everted stomach. Forbes 

 (No. 22, p. 114) states that it frequents oyster and scallop banks, and that Thompson 

 found Cypraca and Turho crassicor in its stomach. 



Distribution. Geographical. A northern species, found in the Arctic Ocean and on 

 both sides of the North Atlantic, as far south as Massachusetts and the French Coasts 

 {fide Bell, No. 7). 



Depth. From shore (Forbes) to 640 fathoms (Bell). 



Bottom-deposit. In the Baltic Mobius (No. 86, p. 103) records S. pappostis from a 

 bottom of stones and sand. In the North Sea Mobius and Biitschli (No. 88) record it 

 from stony ground and from mud ; Meissner and Collin (No. 76) from rocky ground and 

 from sand and mud. In the Kattegat Petersen (No. 95) also found it on sand and mud 

 and on rocky ground. Perrier (No. 94) records it off the coast of Newfoundland on 

 pebbles (cailloux) at a depth of 82 fathoms. As in the case of many wandering 

 echinoderms, the distribution of S. pappostis does not appear to depend directly on the 

 nature of the bottom-deposit, but rather on the presence of a suitable food-supply. 



Henricia sanguinolenta (Chart VII.). The species is nowhere 

 common on the grounds described in this report, generally not more 

 tlian one, never more than two specimens haviug been found in one 

 haul, and on each ground it has only been taken in one or two hauls 

 out of the total of those made. The only points which seem to be 

 suggested by its distribution here are that it avoids both the fine sand 

 and the coarse gravel, occurring generally on those grounds which are 

 intermediate in texture. It may be important also that the deposit 

 contains little silt on those grounds upon which the species has been 

 found. It was taken once only on the Prawle Stony Ground. 



Habits. H. sanguinolenta does not burrow. Tlie fact that its tube-feet are provided 

 with large suckers would at first sight appear to indicate that it is a climbing species and 

 specially adapted to hard and rocky ground. This conclusion is supported by observation 

 of its behaviour in aquaria, and Forbes (No. 22) states that on the east coast he generally 

 found it among rocks at low-water. On the other hand, the species is also found living 

 upon clay (sandy, blue, and Biloculina) and on blue mud, at dejiths down to 1350 fathoms 

 (Sladen, No. 106, p. 541). 



Di.sTiiiBUTioN. Geographical. Both sides of the North Atlantic, Arctic Ocean, North 

 Sea (Bell, No. 7 ; Sladen, No. 106). Not present in Mediterranean (Ludwig, No. 70). 



Depth. Low-water (Forbes) to 1350 fathoms {Cliallenger, No. 106). 



Bottom-deposit. Forbes (No. 22) and M'Intosh, among rocks at low-water. Mobius and 

 Biitschli (No. 88, p. 148), on stony ground, on grey calcareous mud, on blue mud with some 

 sand, and on coarse gravel. Mobius (No. 86), in the Baltic, 15-17 fathoms, stones, sand, 

 and sea-weed. Petersen (No. 95), in Kattegat rare, on mixed deposits, chiefly in southern 

 part. Herdman (No. 41, p. 319), Isle of Man, 15-25 fathoms, nuUiporc ground. Chadwick 

 (No. 16), on the beach at Beaumaris, among roots of Laminaria. Holt (No. 48), on soft 

 mud, corals, and weed, on coral and mud, on mud, sand, and stones, and on sand. Sladen 

 (No. 106), on blue mud (1350 fathoms), on rock, on gravel and stones. Perrier (No. 94), 

 on pel)bles (cailloux) and on nuuldy sand. It apjjcars, tiuu'efore, that the distribution of 

 //. sanguinolenta does not depend directly, to any great degree, upon the nature of the 

 bottom, but is probably influenced chiefly by the food-supi)ly. As to the nature of this 

 food-supply I am unable to give any information. 



Asterias rubens (Chart VL). This species has been taken on almost 

 all the grounds, though it is very much more numerous on some than 



