882 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



VI. On peculiar Hooked Spines on Ophiocoma bellis, with Observations 

 on the Spines of other Ophiocomee. (Plate XX.) By Chas. Wm. 

 Peach, Esq., Wick. (Specimens and drawings were exhibited.) 



On the 26th January 1859 a paper of mine was read, giv- 

 ing an account of the discovery of hooked spines on Ophio- 

 coma rosula, of which I had seen no notice in any work on 

 British star-fishes. In April of the same year, when in 

 London, I called at the Museum of Geology, Jermyn Street, 

 and on mentioning this to Professor Huxley, he at once re- 

 ferred me to a work in which similar spines were figured 

 from star-fishes found in the Mediterranean — viz. Miiller 

 and Troschel's " System der Asteriden, 1842/' Two species 

 are figured and described as having jaw-like hooked spines — 

 one at Table IX., fig. 4, — Ophionyx armata, — another at Table 

 X., figs. 1 and 6 — Asirophyton verrucosum. I only mention 

 this work, so that any one feeling an interest in the subject 

 may know where to refer. On the 14th June 1861, having 

 obtained a large mass of star -fishes from the stomach of a 

 cod, I found that about a hundred were Ophiocoma bellis. 

 After carefully washing them, I placed portions under the 

 microscope, and found that the under sides of the rays were 

 furnished with hooked spines, like those I had before found 

 on Ophiocoma rosula. They are not quite so distinct, nor 

 so constant in form, and do not extend so far on the rays 

 towards the disk ; for about the middle, they become more 

 and more obscure, and before reaching it are straight, short 

 spines. As well as the hooked-jaw like ones, the straight 

 spines above these have hooked tips. Ophiocoma bellis is 

 very abundant here, and is a favourite with cod-fish, as 

 proved by the immense quantities found in their stomachs. 

 Last night, in searching amongst my stores, I found enclosed 

 in glass a specimen of Ophiocoma granulata, thus placed 

 more than nine years ago; and, although pretty perfect, it 

 was not in such a good state of preservation as I could have 

 wished. Being the only one available, I was glad to have 

 it. Although no hooked jaw like spines are to be found on 

 the under side of it, a provision has been made for its wants, 

 by furnishing large hooks to the lower straight spines. These 



