130 CATALOGUE OF THE ECHINODERMATA OF 



the Durham coast (Seahani) I have scarcely obtained a dozen 

 specimens. In Berwick Bay it is rare, but off Dunstanborough 

 it is certainly " at home." My experience of this spot, so fam- 

 ous for starfish, is only of about three hours duration ; but during 

 that short period, we dredged more brittle-stars than one ordi- 

 narily sees in as many years. From what the Rev. A. M. Nor- 

 man, Mr. Drewett, and myself could judge (from the "behaviour" 

 of the dredges), there is a narrow scarp of extremely rough 

 ground, which runs out to the north-east (or thereabouts) about 

 three miles off the castle: this spot is literally "alive" with 

 Ophiothriue fragilis, and Ophiocoma nigra. Each time the dredge 

 came up there were scores upon scores of these species writhing 

 and twisting amongst the zoophytes, &c, with which the net 

 was filled. 



Genus. OPHIOPHOLIS, Millhr and TroscM. 



1. Ophiopholis aculeata (Mi'dler). (Daisy Brittle-star.) 



Asterias aculeata, Miiller. Zool. Dan. III., p. 29. PL 

 XCIX. 



Ophiocoma bellis, Forbes. Brit. Starfishes, p. 35. 



Ophiopholis aculeata, Liitken. Addit. ad hist. Ophiuri 

 Forste Afdeling (1858), p. 60. PI. II., figs. 15, 1G. 



Embleton Bay, rare, R. E. Cullercoats, deep water, rather 

 rare, J. A. Seaham, rather rare. Berwick Bay, rather rare. 

 Holy Island, between tide marks (one specimen). Off Dunstan- 

 borough (twenty-five fathoms), frequent, G. H. 



This beautiful species, although generally distributed, is some- 

 what rare on this coast. I have only obtained from twelve to 

 twenty specimens at Seaham, although the fishing lines and 

 dredge have afforded constant opportunities of procuring it. 

 During a couple, of hours spent in searching Holy Island rocks, 

 in July, 1865, a single specimen was found near low water 

 mark — the only instance in which I have obtained it within tide 

 marks on this coast. Its usual habitat is a depth of from fifteen 

 to thirty fathoms on a rough bottom, and usually associated 



