STArv-nsHES. 175 



count of their habit of throwing off their hmbs all in pieces. 

 The common Brittle-star, for instance, is taken sometimes 

 in great numbers together, in a dredge, when thej writhe 

 in and out among each other with the most worm-like con- 

 tortions, flinging their arms about in broken pieces, and 

 even frightening, as Professor Forbes observes, the very 

 seamen, who see in their threatening attitudes and suicidal 

 actions somethiuGr unearthlv and unnatural. Mr. Gosse 

 speaks of the Ojjhiocoma rosula, and the bushels of speci- 

 mens which he dredged, of the most gorgeous hues, " orange, 

 yellow, crimson, purple, blue, and white ; often arranged in 

 alternate angular bands," and of the exquisite sculptures 

 which they preserved ; but remarks that although he met 

 with many specimens of broken arms, he could generally 

 secure a specimen he wished for, without any very extraor- 

 dinary care. 



LuiDA FRAGiLissiMA [Asteriadze) . 



The stellate body of this, as well as the lobes or arms, is 

 flat, covered above with spiniferous tubercles; the canals 

 on the under side are bordered by two sets of spines, and 

 the suckers are in tw'o row^s. A brick-red colour above, 

 straw-colour beneath. The species varies in the colour of 

 its arms. Mr. Bean, of Scarborough, has taken an example 



