ON THE COMMON BRITTLE STAR. Al 
This is not the first account given of the Tufted Duck breeding 
in England. In the “ Zoologist” for 1850, at p. 2,879, is a 
notice of a brood in Yorkshire; and in the same publication for 
1854 there is alsc an account of the birds nesting at Osberton, 
in Nottinghamshire. 
My friend, Mr. Alfred Newton, of Elveden, says in a letter 
which I had the pleasure of receiving from him, that “ in 1851 
my brother Edward and myself were staying with our cousin, 
Lord Galway, at his placein Nottinghamshire, and the bailiff, 
a most intelligent man, told us of a pair of Tufted Ducks which, 
for the last two or three years, had frequented the water there 
(at Serlby), and hatched their young on an island.” 
Thus it appears we have four well-authenticated instances of 
the Tufted Duck breeding in England. 
VI.—On the Common Britile Star (Ophiocoma rosula), with some 
Remarks on the Growth of the Rays and their Appendages. Pl. 1. 
Durine the early part of 1860 I obtained a minute Star-fish 
from a sac of Grantia compressa. This star, from presenting 
some peculiar points of structure, was carefully examined and 
permanently mounted for the microscope. The most striking 
features were the shortness of the rays and the presence of strong 
claws or hooks upon each, 
These appendages are of very unfrequent occurrence in adult 
forms; and from my specimen having four upon each ray, it was 
inferred that it might be an undescribed species; Pl. I., fig. 1, will 
give an idea of its general form and peculiarities. Size, 4, of 
an inch; colour, disc, orange—rays, nearly white. 
Since then, as opportunities occurred, other specimens were 
sought for, but until the last few weeks I was unsuccessful in find- 
ing any at all like it; however, through the obliging disposition 
of a Seaham fisherman, I have had large quantities of zoophytes 
sponges, &c., brought to me from his fishing lines, and obtained 
