NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM. 137 



Genus. ASTERIAS, Linnaeus. 

 1. Asterias rubens, (Linnmus.) Common Cross-fish. 



Uraster rubens, Forbes. Brit. Starfishes (1841), p. 83. 



Fishing boats, common, J. A. Common all along our shores 

 generally, from a few fathoms to deep water, G. H. 



This and the following species are united by some authors : I 

 think however we have sufficient grounds for separating them, 

 their habitat and the form and character of the spines being quite 

 distinct. The genus is altogether a puzzling one, and one in 

 which it is very difficult to set up distinctive characters by which 

 readily to distinguish one species from another, excepting in 

 those examples which there is no mistaking. A. rubens runs off 

 into several variations ; but whether they are really distinct spe- 

 cies, or mere varieties, it is difficult to decide. I may however 

 state I have three strongly marked varieties, in addition to what 

 I take to be the typical form, viz. : — 



1. Asterias rubens, var. hispida. A small, squat, neat form, 



of which I have specimens dredged in deep water 

 off Northumberland and Durham. They appear 

 mature individuals, although they are only about 

 half an inch across. 



2. A. rubens, var. attenuata. A slender smooth form, spar- 



ingly furnished with spines, very distinct in charac- 

 ter, obtained by dredging in Berwick Bay thirty to 

 forty-five fathoms. 



3. A. rubens, var. gigantea. A very large coarse species, 



occasionally brought in by the fishing lines from deep 

 water. It sometimes attains the enormous size of 

 fourteen inches, Mr. G-. S. Brady having a specimen 

 of this size. Those that I have obtained are two to 

 three inches smaller. It is thickly beset with spines ; 

 the pedicellariae are very numerous. In substance 

 it is rather "flabby," and unless care is used when 

 handling it in a living state, its rays are liable to 



