144 CATALOGUE OF THE ECHTNODERMATA OF 



the body may be described as irregularly formed plates inclining 

 to an elongated oval form, which is the normal type, the largest 

 examined being about -rtHro of an inch in length and about half 

 that breadth. They are pierced by a number of circular and 

 oval holes, the largest being about riroo of an inch across. The 

 early and gradual growth of these spicules is represented by 

 figs. 1-14, the latter numbers being mature plates. 



Cucumaria lactea (Forbes and Goodsir). Milk-white Sea-girkin. 

 PI. I., figs. 15-23. 



Ocnus lacteus, Forbes. Hist. Brit. Starfishes (1841), 



p. 231. 

 Cucumaria lactea, Diiben and Koren. Skand. Echin., 



p. 297. PI. IV., figs. 3-7 ; and PI. XI., fig. 55. 



Not uncommon, J. A. Northumberland and Durham coasts, 

 rather rare, G-. H. 



This species was only taken during the first and last of the 

 dredging expeditions already referred to, and did not then occur 

 on the Durham coast. I have however obtained two or three 

 small specimens during my private dredgings off Seaham. These 

 are very small as compared with some kindly given me by my 

 friend, Mr. G. S. Brady, obtained by him on the west coast of 

 Ireland. Mr. Alder, from his remark "not uncommon," would 

 appear to have more frequently met with it, probably from refuse 

 brought into Cullercoats by the fishing boats. Probably it is an 

 inhabitant of deeper water than we usually have the chance of 

 dredging in. The body spicules are very elegant in form, con- 

 sisting of a number of spherules arranged in a regular manner 

 at moderate distances from each other and connected by thinner 

 bands of the same material, of such form as to leave circular or 

 slightly oval perforations : the largest of these body spicules are 

 about row of an inch in their greatest length. In addition to 

 these spicules we find in a " boiling" a number of flat plates of 

 irregular form, mostly much longer than broad, and about t-ot> 

 of an inch long. The perforations in these spicules vary from 

 tdVc to -r&Vrr of an inch in diameter. 



