184 The Naturalist of C^lmbrae. 



"MY DEAR SIR, "Newbottle, Fence Houses. 



" I was away from home for a few days when 

 your note arrived. I hope that the delay in conse- 

 quence of this in sending back your echinodermata has 

 not inconvenienced you, and that Amphiura Chiajii 

 will still reach you in time for the meeting referred to 

 in your letter, 



"You kindly offered to aid me in a former letter 

 in any way in which you were able as regards the 

 echinodermata. May I then ask you to carefully 

 collect in your dredgings this summer small speci- 

 mens of the genus Asterias of all species, especially any 

 that appeared to you to differ from common forms. 



" Next, I shall be much obliged if you could add to 

 my collection good specimens of Amphiura filiformis, 

 Amphittra Cfoiajtiand Amphiura brachiata, especially 

 the latter, should you succeed in meeting with it. 

 The only specimens that I have (from the Moray 

 Firth) are very imperfect. 



" Keep your eyes open for the new British Ophiurce. 

 I have seen one imperfect Ophiura affinis from Lam- 

 lash. Look out also for Holothuroidece. 



" I have retained two or three small and badly 

 preserved Asterias, which were in the box with the 

 large rubens, as I cannot satisfy myself at present as 

 to what they are, without further examination and 

 comparison with other specimens. 



" / particularly want a series of young A mphiura 

 glacialis, the smaller the better. 



" Believe me, my dear sir, 



" Yours very truly, 

 "ALFRED MERLE NORMAN. 



"May 23, 1865." 



