382 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society, 
VI. On peculiar Hooked Spines on Ophiocoma bellis, with Observations 
on the Spines of other Ophiocoraae. (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- 
conia rosula, of which I had seen no notice in any work on 
British star-fishes. In April of the same year, w^hen 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 TroscheFs " System der Asteriden, 1842/' Two species 
are figured and described as having jaw-like hooked spines — 
one at Table IX., fig. 4, — OpMo7iyx armata, — another at Table 
X., figs. 1 and 6 — Astrophyton verrucosum. I only mention 
this work, so that any one feeling an interest in the subject 
may know vvdiere 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 hellis. 
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 hellis 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 
