304 Part III. — Twentieth Annual Report 



v.— THE ECHINODERMS OF THE MORAY AND CROMARTY 



FIRTHS. 



By Fred G. Pearcbt. 



It has been often considered desirable to draw up lists of the various 

 groups of the invertebrate animals which inhabit the sea bottom in the 

 areas where the supply of food fishes is obtained, and upon which the 

 fish themselves depend more or less for their food supply. 



This report comprises the Echinoderms that have for the greater part 

 been taken by trawl or dredge over and near the areas of the sixteen 

 stations laid down for special observations in the Moray and Cromarty 

 Firths. It cannot, however, by any means be considered an exhaus- 

 tive list for the whole of both areas, as will be seen by reference 

 to the chart, since the stations cover but a small portion of either the 

 Moray or Cromarty Firths. I have, however, when opportunity afforded, 

 trawled and dredged outside or near these localities, as well as in isolated 

 spots, the results of which are here incorporated, so as to make the list as 

 complete as possible. 



The discussion of the distribution of the various species is founded 

 upon 117 liauls made by means of the dredge, beam-trawl, otter-trawl, 

 or small shrimp-trawl. In Table A are given the physical characters of 

 the Stations, viz., nature of the bottom, depth of water, and the temper- 

 ature of the water at the bottom at the time of each haul. The 

 numbers of specimens of each species obtained on each station by all 

 the hauls made there are 5et out in Table B. From these data a certain 

 amovmt of information regarding the most favourable habitat of each 

 species is available. I have, however, left this question over for further 

 and more direct observation. 



In drawing up these lists I have made use chiefly of Mr. F. Jeffrey 

 Bell's British Museum Catalogue of the British Echinoderms for the 

 identification of the species here enumerated, and have followed the 

 classification there given. After each species I have noted the names of 

 the common fishes which are definitely known to prey upon it. 



For the list of bearings of each station I am partly indebted to Captain 

 Robert Campbell, of the "Garland," to whom I wish here to tender my 

 thanks. 



Bearings of Special Stations in the Moray and Cromarty 



Firths. 



Station I. extends in a straight line from W. ^ N. to E. | S. Brough 

 Head Pier bearing S.E. | E., distance 1^ miles, to Findhorn Spit, 



Station II. extends in a semi-circle E. to W. off Nairn, bearing S. W. 

 by W., distance 4| miles, extending parallel to the beach line for 

 about 4 miles. 



Cromarty Firth. 



Station III. extends in a straight line W.N.W. to E.S.E. from off 

 Cromarty village, nearest the south side, westward, passing the 

 mouth of Udall Bay, till abreast of Black Buoy, Chapelton Point. 



