marine fauna and flora of south devon and cornwall. 55 



Alctonidiad^;. 



Among the Alcyonidiadas we have taken two species, in addition to 

 gelatinosum, to which we do not find any reference in the first edition of 

 Dr. Johnston's 'Natural History of British Zoophytes.' One of these resembles 

 so much the coral Eschara cornu-cervi, that but for its soft texture and 

 flexibility it migbt be compared to it. The other resembles a short club, 

 almost an oval mallet, on the top of a slender footstalk. Figures of these 

 have been taken. 



EcHINODEKMATA. 



Amongst the Echinodermata may be mentioned Echinus flemingii, Spatan- 

 guspurpureus, Porania pulvillus (Goniaster templetoni of Forbes), and Pal- 

 mi pes placenta : these specimens are often brought in by the trawlers, but some- 

 times a maund containing little else than the Pahnipes is procured at one 

 time, the others being rather rare. Amongst these and their more common 

 associates we have on three occasions found a specimen of Luidia savignii 

 about eight inches in the greater diameter, and twice a single ray of what we 

 believe to be Luidia sarsii. It is seven inches long, more abruptly tapering 

 than in the other species ; its upper surface orange, with purplish-brown 

 spots at the base of the spines of the paxilla? ; in all other respects it answers 

 the description given of the species by the Rev. A. M. Norman in his paper 

 on the genera and species of British Echinodermata published in the ' Annals 

 of Natural History.' This is, we believe, the first notice of a western locality 

 for this interesting animal, which must have been fifteen inches in its greater 

 diameter. On the inner side of the eastern end of the Breakwater, where 

 grey mud has collected, six specimens of Amphiura • filiform is, remarkable for 

 its pickaxe -shaped spines, occurred in one haul of the dredge. This species 

 also has not been noticed here before, the Durham and Northumberland coasts 

 being the only English localities yet given. Antedon rosaceus is common in 

 the Sound, where it is found principally on the rocks that project from the 

 mud and rubble of the bottom ; of late years they have greatly extended 

 their colonies, owing probably to the injured specimens having been thrown 

 overboard wliilst the boat was moving to a different spot. 



Ophiothrix fragilis (Ophiocoma rosula, Forbes) is common everywhere, its 

 colours being most varied. We only mention it here to point out an important 

 modification of the spines nearest the cirrhi, they being converted into books 

 of two or three points, which must greatly assist them in maintaining their 

 hold of the rocks on which they live ; and more especially must these be use- 

 ful in the young star-fish_, whose life is for some time spent on sponges, from 

 which it is, indeed, often difficult to remove them without injury. Ophio- 

 coma nigra often occurs mixed with the last species, but is never so 

 numerous. Specimens of Holothuria nigra are sometimes dredged, and 

 Ocnus brunneus is not uncommon in the Sound. We have also obtained IPen- 

 tacta hyndmanni deeply wedged into the holes made by Sa.vicava in the rocks 

 outside the Breakwater. Sipunculus bernhardus, Thalassema neptuni, and one 

 example of Syrinx modus have also been found here. From Polperro we have 

 received a specimen of Synapta, but was unable to determine its species as 

 the preservative fluid had destroyed its anchors and plates. Some years since 

 one was also obtained in the Sound, but was not, I believe, preserved. 



Before concluding this Report it may be interesting to briefly describe a 

 curious, and probably unique abnormal growth found on the oral surface of 

 an Echinus sphcera. On opening the shell the inner surface of this part 

 appeared as if sand or some foreign substance had got under the perisoma, 

 but on closer examination this was found to be owing to a growth from the 



