Article IIL — Zoological Notes. 
55 
si^ecimens on the shores of the large island in Oak Bay, a 
few miles above. During September, 1889, other specimens 
were found near the latter locality, where it seems to be quite 
abundant. The specimens were four or five inches in diam- 
eter, which is the full average size of the species, and occur 
at low-water mark, in company with great numbers of the 
common and generally much larger Asterias vulgaris. There 
is no doubt of the identity of the species; for a specimen 
from Oak Bay sent to Prof. Verrill, the highest authority on 
American littoral starfishes, has been pronounced by him ‘‘ a 
typical example of A. Forhesii.^' 
There are two explanations of the presence of this de" 
cidedly southern form in the Bay. One, suggested by Prof. 
Verrill, is, that it may have been brought with southern 
oysters and placed there with them. Oysters have been placed 
in Oak Bay, though I have not been able to learn whether 
southern or Gulf of St. Lawrence stock was used. In either 
case, it seems difficult to believe that starfishes could be car- 
ried so far out of water and survive. They have no method 
of retaining water as oysters have. Still the very young may 
have survived in the wet mud. 
The other explanation is that they are a remnant of the 
southern or Virginian assemblage of animals which once oc- 
cupied our entire Acadian coast. Oak Bay is a sheltered 
locality, not deep, but with clear water. The temperature of 
its water is high enough in summer to allow of bathing in 
comfort, which the water of the Bay of Fundyis not; and in 
this comparatively favorable locality this species may have 
survived all its southern comrades. No other southern 
species have been found in Oak Bay, though some search has 
been made for them. 
9. Asterias littoralis« (Stimpson), Verrill. 
A specimen of this species was given to the writer at Grand 
Manan in August, 1888, by Mr. Simon Cheney, the color of 
which can be described only by calling it an intense Prussian 
blue. Others, to whom it was shown, agreed that this was 
the proper name for its color. It was of the usual size of the 
species. 
