MARINE ZOOLOGY. 183 
result the most perfect unanimity and bon accord existed during our visit. 
Anyhow this is a gain to humanity if not to science! The general 
arrangements were similar to those adopted on our previous excursion 
but m many respects we improved upon them, and gained valuable 
experience. For the first time we had the advantage of a small steamer 
daily at our command, and, although the Lizzie was not 
altogether equal to our expectations, the saving of time and 
consequent addition to comfort was important. 
As before, our dredgings were mainly confined to Lamlash 
Bay, the richest and most attractive ground. In the ‘Midland 
Naturalist,” Vol. I., page 11, I gave an account of our captures 
during 1877, and, as we again took specimens of most of the species 
therein recorded, it is only necessary here just to allude to the 
additions which are of any special interest. The district, as stated 
previously, is richest in Echinoderms, and we secured specimens of 
every species observed on our last visit, with the exception of the some- 
what rare aberrant form of T'hyone papillosa. As a set off, however, 
we took a magnificent specimen of Luidia fragilissima, or Lingthorn, 
the glory of the late Professor Forbes, who has so graphically described 
its extremely brittle nature and its liability to break itself up into 
fragments immediately, if not even before, the dredge comes up. This 
star-fish is exceedingly interesting, not only from its comparative rarity, 
but because, as Forbes said, it is the ‘‘ most remarkable and largest of 
all our British star-fishes.” It is intermediate between the true star- 
fishes—those having ambulacral suckers—and the sea-urchins. 
Our  specimen—notwithstanding the ‘proverbial friability of the 
species—came up in the dredge entire, and a bucketful of pure sea- 
water having been speedily provided for its reception, we were enabled 
to examine and admire it and its moving spines and suckers in all their 
beauty. The specimen measured upwards of 18 inches across, was 
of brick red colour above, the under surface and lateral spines being 
a delicate straw colour. Well knowing its extreme friability, every 
means were taken to secure the specimen intact. It was preserved 
in sea-water for three or four hours, and, in order that when killed it 
should be unbroken, we carried it to a deep portion of the “brawling 
burn” in the grounds attached to the Brodick Hotel, and plunged it 
into fresh-water. Great and lasting, however, was our disappointment 
on returning to the hotel to see the rays one by one detach themselves 
at their junction with the disc, and presently not a single ray remained 
attached. If we had followed our ‘“‘ Carpenter,” we might have killed 
the specimen without dismembering it, by immersion in glycerine; or, 
better still, by allowing it to die gradually in sea-water. In connection 
- with the Echinoderms it should be mentioned that, although we were 
six weeks earlier than last year, and hoped by this we might secure 
some specimens of Antedon (Comatula) rosaceus in the stalked condition, 
not a single one was taken, all being in the free form, and many of 
them mature adults. It seems probable, therefore, that the specimens 
in the stalked condition which we took at Torquay in September, 1873, 
were the result of an abnormal second brood. 
