3838 Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh. 



fathoms, off Prestonpans. The two most curious of our British Ophiuridae are Ophio- 

 coma brachiata and 0. filiformis (of Forbes) ; both of them are found in the Firth of 

 Forth. The first appears to be rare ; but Dr. H. has obtained several unquestionable 

 specimens in the trawl from Largo Bay. Ophiocoma filiformis is certainly not rare in 

 mud, in from three to twelve fathoms, between Musselburgh and Kirkaldy. Indeed, 

 one can seldom dredge off Musselburgh, without meeting with rejected members of 

 this species ; but it is very apt to be overlooked, especially as the very curious charac- 

 ter ascribed to the third row of spines by Professor Forbes, is seldom met with. All 

 the spines of the spine-bearing Echinoderms that Dr. H. has had an opportunity of 

 examining, are more or less sculptured, and there is a general tendency to be com- 

 pressed, especially in the third row, on the arms of the Ophiocomse. Their margins 

 are thin and transparent in Ophiocoma rosula and O. filiformis, — the former bearing 

 large teeth, which are produced forward at an acute angle to the axis of the spine ; on 

 the latter, the spines are generally more or less truncated, and finely serrated along 

 their margin, and often terminate by two large teeth projecting laterally, so forming 

 the resemblance to a pickaxe ; but there are all degrees of variation between this form 

 and an acute terminal spine, as in other Ophiocomae. Ophiocoma bellis and rosula 

 are both common, especially the latter, as littoral, laminarian, and coralline species. 

 Dr. H. has a small and imperfect specimen, which does not agree well with any of the 

 species of this genus described by Professor Forbes. The disk is covered with scales, 

 as in 0. neglecta, but these have a frosted appearance, quite unlike the smooth surface 

 of that species. The spines on the rays, instead of being ovoid, as in that species, are 

 somewhat pyramidal and acute at the apex. The most remarkable character, however, 

 is the absence of the superior plate on the two first segments of each ray. Until more 

 specimens are obtained, nothing definite can be said ; but it is not improbable that it 

 may turn out to be merely an immature specimen of one of the larger species. Aste- 

 rias aurantiaca and Solaster endeca are both brought up in abundance by the trawl- 

 boats from Largo Bay, and on the lines further down the Firth. Solaster papposa 

 abounds everywhere, and in all depths of water. Rays of Luidia fragilissima are of 

 common occurrence on the fishing-lines from the Mar-bank; and Dr. H. has also met 

 with them in the trawl from Largo Bay. Uraster rubens, U. violacea, and Cribella 

 oculata are common on our coasts. In dredging on muddy or sandy bottoms, one of 

 the most common crustaceans met with in all parts of the Firth of Forth is Ste- 

 norhynchus phalangium. Inachus Dorsettensis is sometimes brought up on the lines 

 of the deep-sea boats. Hyas araneus is frequently met with on sandy sea-beaches at 

 low water, as at Musselburgh, in the salmon-stake nets, where it indulges its carnivo- 

 rous propensities on the fish left dry by the tide. The common shore crab (Carcinus 

 Manas) and the edible crab {Cancer pagurus) are also very injurious to the salmon- 

 fisher in this way. Dr. H. had seen trout and mackerel reduced to skeletons in a very 

 short time ; and grilse and salmon are often rendered unfit for market by an unseemly 

 scar, the work of these marauders. The finest specimens of Hyas araneus obtained 

 by Dr. H. are from the crab-pots at Prestonpans ; some of these (males) measured a 

 foot from the extremity of the third limb to that of the opposite one, and were of a 

 bright flesh -colour. The edible crab is very particular as to the time and quality of his 

 meals ; he will seldom enter the crab-pots except over-night, and then only when the 

 fish with which they are baited is fresh. On the other hand, the Hyas as invariably 

 feeds during the day, and seems to prefer his food a little high. Had we the means 

 of observing, it is highly probable that we should find marine as well as terrestrial 



