232 Guide to Belfast. 



banks ; they may also be found on the rocks at low water, 

 and are sometimes cast U[) on the shore. The peculiar 

 Bird's-foot Starfish (Pahnipes placenta) has been found on 

 the coasts of Antrim and Down, also the small Asterina 

 gibbosa, the smallest of the British Asteroidea. Forania 

 pulvillus has been taken in Belfast and Strangford Loughs, 

 and Astropecten irregulare in rathe- r deep water off the coasts 

 of Antrim and Down; but neither of the two species of Z/^/d'/a 

 — Luidia Satsi a.n(\L.cilia/-is — appears to have been recorded 

 from these coasts, although both are common on the west 

 coast of Ireland. 



Ophiuroidea. — This class is well represented on our 

 coasts. Amphiuj-a Chiajii and A. filiformis are recorded 

 from the coast of Down, and Ophiactis Balli from the 

 Giant's Causeway. Ophiura dliaris, O. albida, Ampliiuj-a 

 elegans, Ophiopholis aculeata, and Ophioconia nigra are 

 generally distributed. The common Brittle-star (Ophiothrix 

 fragilis) is exceedingly common, occurring at all depths from 

 low-wattr mark to about 50 fathoms, and often in great num- 

 bers. The long-armed Brittle star (Ophiocnida brachiata) 

 has been found in Belfast and Strangford Loughs and off 

 the coast of Down ; this species has been recorded from 

 Kenmare River, but appears to be rare on the Irish coast 



Echinoidea. — The Common Sea-urchin (Echinus escii- 

 lentiis) and the small E. jniliaris, easily recognised by its 

 comparatively long spines tipped with purple, are generally 

 distributed. A specimen of the Purple Eg-^-urchin (Strongv- 

 locentrotus lividus).,a. characteristic species of the west coast of 

 Ireland from Cork to Donegal, is stated by Dr. Dickie^ to 

 have been cast up on the shore at Carrickfergus. The 

 Green Pea- urchin (Echinocyamus pusillus), the least of the 

 British Echinoidea, is common in rather deep water off 

 the coasts of Antrim and Down ; also the Purple Heart- 

 urchin (Spaiangus purpiireiis). The common Heart-urchin 

 (Echinocardium cordatum) is frequently thrown up on the 

 sandy coasts; and E. flavescens has occasionally been taken 

 in rather deep water. A single specimen of the rare Fiddle 

 Heart-urchin (Brissopsis lyrifera), at once recognised by the 



1 G. Dickie. — Remarks on the Distribution and Habits of Echinus 

 lividus. Rep. Brit. Assoc, 1852, part 2, p. 72. 



