FAUNA OF THE OUTER WESTERN AEEA OF THE CHANNEL. 337 



mens, perhaps twenty or twenty-five, occurred at 31 and 53 ; about a 

 dozen at 21, 22, 30, 34-36, 44-46, 52, 56 ; few specimens or single 

 specimens at all other positions, including 1 and 80. 



OPHIOTHEICIDAE. 

 Ophiothrix fragilis (0. F. Mliller). 



Eecorded from 23 positions, including the first and 63 and 64, 

 but not 80. 



Depth, 40-53 fath. 



Nowhere obtained in large numbers. The greatest number, not 

 exceeding about a dozen, occurred at Positions 5, 59, and 70. At the 

 other points only a few or single specimens occurred. Small or young 

 specimens were recorded at ten positions, viz. 1, 4, 5, 9, 10, 33, 40, 

 46, 53, 63. 



The frequent occurrence of these small specimens is remarkable, 

 while no such entry occurs in the records of the preceding species. 

 In point of numbers and frequency of occurrence it seems evident, 

 from whatever cause, that Ophiocoma nigra is by far the predominating 

 species on these outer grounds. Eeducing the comparative terms of 

 entry used for the several records to rough numerical estimates where 

 figures are not shown, I calculate that the total numbers recorded 

 of the two species, 0. fragilis and 0. nigra respectively stand in the 

 proportion of about 1 : 2*75. 



ECHINOIDEA. 



ECHINIDAE. 

 Echinus acutus, Lamarck. 



At Positions 7, 31, 35, 36, 43, 49, 52, 72. 



Depth, 40-47 fath. 



These positions all lie between fifteen and thirty-one miles from the 

 Eddystone, at a depth of 40-43 fath. Very few specimens of the 

 species occurred, not more than three being recorded from any position. 



Echinus esculentus, Linnaeus. 



In marked contrast with the preceding, the extent of occurrence of 

 this species will best be shown by giving the records, as far as they 

 were made, in actual figures. Where numbers are omitted after a 

 position the number of specimens was not recorded, but may be 

 regarded as one or few. 



At Position 1 (one), 3 (few), 7, 8, 12 (one), 20 (few), 22 (one), 32 

 (one), 34 (seven), 36 (one), 43 (two), 45 (four), 46 (nine), 49 



