OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 25 



This species is the Gfoniaster equestris and 

 6r. abbensis of Forbes. It must be regarded 

 as an inhabitant of only the seaward limits 

 of the Firth. Mr F. M. Balfour has ob- 

 tained one specimen from the Forth, which 

 he thinks was from the deep-sea lines, or 

 possibly from the creels. In Mr Norman's 

 account of its general distribution, it is 

 said to occur on the western, evidently a 

 misprint for the eastern, coast of North 

 America. It is abundant on the cod banks 

 off Halifax. 



ASTROPECTINHLE. 



Luidia savignyi (Aud.). 



Firth of Forth (Howd^). 

 Professor Perrier includes under this spe- 

 cific name the Luidia fragilissima of 

 Forbes Asterias savignyi of Audouin 

 and Luidia sarsii of Duben and Koren ; 

 and in this we follow him. Although it 

 has been obtained on several occasions 

 near the mouth of the estuary, we have 

 not been so fortunate as to find it. Our 

 friend Dr Traquair informs us that he has 

 dredged it off North Berwick. 



Astropecten irregularis (Linck). 



Firth of Forth (E. F.) ; Firth of Forth (M'B) . 

 The Asterias aurantiaca of Forbes, accord- 

 ing to whom it is common in the Forth. We 

 have found it on several occasions among 

 the refuse of the fishing lines, and while 

 dredging in rather deep water ; but it can 

 scarcely be reckoned one of our com- 

 moner species, at least in the upper 

 reaches of the estuary. Mr F. M. Balfour 

 has found it rather commonly in the 

 creels, and while dredging near the mouth 

 of the Firth, 

 c 



