The Echinodermaici of Jhew Q^r^lnswich. 31 
(b) In N. B, waters ; — Grand Manan, corralline zone, not 
nncommon, kStimpso7i, (D). Eastport Harbor, “at low-water 
of spring tides among rocks (mostly small specimens), and 
abundantly, of all sizes from half an inch to eighteen inches 
or more in diameter, in fifteen to twenty fathoms, shelly and 
stony bottom.’’ Verrilh (L), (N), (Q). Friar’s Cove, Ganong, 
(X). Bay of Fnndy, very common, low water to 100 fathoms, 
Verrill,(Q). Bradelle Bank, Gulf of St. Lawrence; Whiteaves, 
(P). Black’s Harbor, near Letete Passage, Charlotte County. 
This very interesting Echinoderm is quite abundant on our southern 
coast. It is a true Opliiuran, differing from the common forms chiefly 
in its greater size and the branching of its arms. The disk, which is 
from two to two and a half inches in diameter, is pentagonal and 
covered with a brownish skin having small granules, which, upon the 
ten very evident radiating ribs, become large tubercles or blunt spines. 
On the under side the skin is covered with small granules and fills the 
spaces between the arms, at the bases of which is the mouth with conspi- 
cuous papilhn and teeth, and on each side of which, just as they emerge 
from the disk, are the genital openings. The arms, five in number, as 
they spring from the disk, immediately divide each into two, the 
branches again soon dividing in a like manner, the branchlets also 
dividing, and so on, until at their extremities the arms have become an 
immense number of very slender, roughened twigs. The branching is 
not, however, trul}^ dichotomous"' — that is, the two branches are never 
exactly equal, but one is larger than the other — a large and a small 
one following each other at unequal intervals along any given arm. If 
the branching were dichotomous, a specimen with twelve forks to each 
of the arms would have about 20,480 terminal twigs, whereas the mode 
of branching above mentioned produces about 5,470. The arms are 
covered above with a rough granular skin of yellow color with no 
visible external plates ; below it is smooth and soft and on the outer 
under sides of each arm and branchlet runs a triple row of short, blunt 
spines. 
The extremities of the arms can be brought around towards the 
mouth, and it is usually in this position, having them much tangled 
and interlaced, that the aniftial dies, and is seen in preserved speci- 
mens, showing well why it is called Basket-flsh. While alive, however, 
it keeps them expanded, using them to catch the small animals which 
form a part of its food. According to Alexander Agassiz (K), “In 
moving the animal lifts itself on the extreme end of these branches. 
* As shown by Mr. Lyman. See Proceed. Post. Soc. Nat. Hist. Vol. XIX., 
1876-78, p. 10:>. 
