NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM. 129 



the Northumberland than on the Durham coast. Several ex- 

 amples have also occurred from twenty to thirty fathoms, both 

 from the fishing lines and dredged. These are usually of a much 

 lighter colour than those found between tide marks, but do not 

 differ in other respects. This species would thus appear to have 

 a wide distribution. 



4. Amphiura Ballii [Thompson). (Ball's Brittle-star). 



Ophiocoma Ballii, Forbes. Brit. Starfishes (1841), p. 35. 



Ophiocoma Goodsiri, Forbes. Brit. Starfishes (1841), 

 p. 57. 



Amphiura Ballii, Sars. Bidrag til Kundsk. om Middle- 

 havets Littoral Fauna, p. 98. 



Cullercoats, deep water, not uncommon, J. A. 



Very common all along our coast in ten to twenty-five fathoms, 

 usually inhabiting the crevices and holes of stones which are 

 brought up from that depth. On the Durham coast, the per- 

 forated Magnesian Limestone from deep water contains large 

 numbers. It is a remarkably handsome species, the transverse 

 bands contrasting in a pleasing manner with the ground colours 

 of the rays. Remarkably fine specimens were dredged near the 

 Fame Islands during the expeditions alluded to. 



Genus. OPHIOCOMA, (Agassiz.) 

 Ophiocoma nigra (Mutter). (Granulated Brittle-star.) 



Asterias nigra, Midler. Zool. Dan. III., p. 20. Pl.XCIIL, 

 figs. 1-4. 



Ophiocoma granulata, Forbes. Brit. Starfishes (1841), 

 p. 50. 



Embleton Bay, not uncommon, R. E. Berwick Bay, rare. 

 Off Dunstanborough (twenty -five fathoms), very abundant, 

 Seaham, rather rare, Gr. H. 



This species is as rare on some parts of our coast as it is com- 

 mon on others. During the several years I have collected on 



i 



