of the Fisher// Hoard for Scotland. 311 



ASTERIID.E. 



AsTKUIAS. 



Asterias rii/je?iSy Liun. 



1885. Asterias rubens, Pearcey, Pruc. Koy. Pliys. Soc, Edinh., 



p. 404. 

 1892. Asterias rnhens, Bell, Brit. Mus. Cat., i>p. 100-102. 

 1896-97. Asterias rul>ens, Scott, F.B. Scot. Kept., If), p. 161. 



Asterias ruliens is the most common asterid in the British seas. It is 

 found abundantly and generally distributed over the whole of both the 

 Moray and Cromarty Firths, but most abundant in from 6 to 15 fathom.'^. 



Its bathymetrical range in the British seas extends from low-water 

 mark down to 125 fathoms off the Shetland Islands. 



Asterias rubens, var. attenuata, Hodge. 



Two specimens of this variety were obtained, at Station XIV., in 29 to 

 40| fathoms, and in the Cromarty Firth, between Invergordon and 

 Alness, in 11 to 5 fathoms. 



I have also dredged it oft" North Rona, in 56 fiithom.s, and at 

 Tobermory, Mull, in 30 fathoms. 



Its bathymetrical range is not deHnitely known. Young specimens of 

 .1. rulfcns have l)een found in the stomachs of IlaitdocA; Plaice, and 

 Long-roui/h dab. 



Asterias Mtirrai/i, F. -T. Bell. 



1891. Asterias Mtirray/, F. Jeftreys Bell, Ann. and Mag. Nat. 

 Hist., vii., p, 478, pi. xv. 



1892. Asterias Murrayi, Bell, Brit. Mus. Cat., p. 103, PI. xii., 

 figs. 1 and 2. 



Asterias Murrrayi is here recorded for the first time from the Moray 

 Firth. 



It appears, so far as my observations have extended, to be a rare form 

 in this area. Three specimens only have been taken ; two typical and 

 one doubtful, at Stations IX. and XII., in 27 1 to 36 fathoms. 



Hitherto this species has been obtained only from the Firth of Clyde 

 area, where it was trawled and dredged by Sir John Murray and myself 

 for the first time in 1888-90 in from 20 to 65 fathoms. It is also 

 recorded from the west coast of Ireland, but no depth or exact locality is 

 given. 



It is therefore of considerable interest to have discovered this beautiful 

 species inhabiting the waters of the east as well as the west coast of 

 Scotland. 



Asterias hispida, Pennant. 



1890-91. Asterias hispida, Scott, Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc, Edin- 

 burgh, p. 81. 

 1892. Asterias hisjnda, Bell, Brit. jMus. Cat., pp. 103, 104. 

 One specimen of this doubtful species was obtained by me, in the 

 ordinary trawl, at Station XII. in 22. j to 25 fathoms on Smith Bank. I 

 have not met with it elsewhere in the~Moray Firth. 



It has been taken by Mr. Thomas Scott, F.L.S., Naturalist to the Fisliery 

 Board for Scotland, in fair abundance at Kessock Ferry, at the entrance 

 to the Beauly Firth, near Inverness, in fully 18^ fathoms. Mr. Scott 

 says the specimens that he obtained were, when living, easily distinguished 



