LTJMPENUS LAMPETRIFORMIS ON THE COAST OP SCOTLATiD. 45 



OpJiiothrix peiitaphyllum. Here and there very sparingly dis- 

 tributed is also to be found that link which joins the present to 

 the past — our elegant British Crinoid, Antedon rosacea. 



From the depths of this vast aquarium we also sometimes 

 obtain a specimen of that fine, but most repulsively odoured 

 Starfish, Sticliaster roseiis, accompanied occasionally by Falmipes 

 memhranaceus. 



Here also is that form which the late Prof. Forbes calls one of 

 the rarest and most beautiful of our native Starfish, Sippasteria 

 plana ; beautiful it unquestionably is ; but in this long valley 

 it is by no means rare, dozens are sometimes brought up at one 

 drag of the net. Accompanying it, but in very much fewer 

 numbers, is its exquisitely coloured little brother, Forania pul- 

 villus. And yet again, along this great expanse of mud, sand, 

 and peat, live Astropecten irregularis and Luidia Savignyi, the 

 latter a form more troublesome and tantalizing in its habits 

 than any of our Starfish with which the lover of Nature may 

 come in contact. Hundreds of this fine form are brought up 

 both by trawl and line, but only to fall in pieces on coming to the 

 surface, or, as Forbes says, " in a minute he proceeds to dissolve 

 his corporation." 



Of the Echinoidea which frequent this ground, we have JEcTiino- 

 cyamus pusillus, Spatangus purpureus, Brissopsis lyrifera, and 

 Ecliinocardium cordatum, while in each suitable resting-place are 

 specimens of Friapuliis caudatus, a favourite food of the " AVitch- 

 Sole." Aphrodita aculeata is also present in abundance. 



The Crustacea to be met with along these grounds are numerous 

 and highly interesting. Heading the list comes Cancer paguriis, 

 Litliodes maia, Nephrops norvegicus, Corystes cassivelaunus, Calo- 

 caris Jfacandrece (the latter is eaten in enormous numbers by the 

 "Witch-Sole), Galathea squamifera, G. dispersa, and G. Andrewsi, 

 I*agurus Bernhardus, P. Thornpsoni, and P. Prideauxi (always 

 accompanied by its humbler friend Adamsia palliafa), Portunus 

 Jiolsatus, P. pusillus^ and P. depurator, Crangon vulgaris^ C. hispi- 

 ^osMs,and C.trispinosus, Hippolyte spinus, Callianassa suhterranea. 

 JPandalus annulicornis, various species of the genus Diastylus, 

 accompanied by their kindred form Eudora truncatula, and 

 several of the Mysida) literally swarm. These are all the higher 

 Stalk-eyed Crustacea; but in addition to the above list there is 

 another stalk -eyed form, of which I have taken several specimens 



