NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM. 131 



with Ophiothrix fragilis and Amphiura Batlii. When dredging 

 off Dunstanborough Castle, on the occasion just alluded to, no 

 less than ten specimens were obtained in about three hours, two 

 or three of which were finely coloured and of large size, each 

 ray measuring over three inches, which gives nearly seven inches 

 from tip of one ray to the tip of that opposite. The largest 

 specimen in my collection from the Durham coast only measures 

 four inches. 



Genus. OPHIURA, {Lamarck.) 



1. Ophiura lacertosa [Pennant). Common Sand-star. 



Asterias lacertosa, Pennant. Brit. Zool., Vol. IV., p. 63. 

 Ophiura texturata, Forbes. Brit. Starfishes (1841). 



Embleton Bay, not uncommon, R. E. Cullercoats, not com- 

 mon, J. A. Durham coast, fifteen to thirty fathoms, frequent, 

 G. H. 



This fine species is frequently brought up by the dredge and 

 fishing lines, usually from a sandy bottom. Immature indivi- 

 duals are often found in shallow water (six to fifteen fathoms) 

 associated with 0. albida, for which they may be mistaken : ma- 

 ture forms are rarely found except in deep water (twenty to 

 forty-six fathoms). A specimen in my collection measures nine 

 inches from tip to tip. 



2. Ophiura albida (Forbes). Lesser Sand-star. 



Ophiura albida, Forbes. Brit. Starfishes (1841). 



Embleton Bay, rare, R. E. Cullercoats, not uncommon, J. A. 

 Fame Islands and Berwick Bay, twelve to forty fathoms, fre- 

 quent. Durham coast, six to twenty-five fathoms, very com- 

 mon, G. H. 



This generally distributed species is very common on the Dur- 

 ham coast. It has frequently happened that in one morning I 

 have had from fifty to seventy specimens brought me by a fisher- 

 man, which he had picked off his hooks. It is also obtained in 

 great abundance by the dredge in from six to twenty fathoms ; 



