The Echinodermaia of Jdeiv dirunsimck. 19 " 
the former, Ctenodiscus crispatus of the latter. It is an 
interesting question whether AsterHas Forhesii will upon 
further search be found upon our INorth Shore. This is a 
Starfish which is very abundant on the coast in and south of 
Massachusetts Bay, associated there with Asterias vulgaris, 
the common form of our own shores. It belongs essentially 
to the southern fauna which occupies the great shallow basin 
of the southern part of the Gulf, and has been found by Prof. 
Verrill at Casco Bay, Maine, where a similar isolated southern 
colony occurs. It seems altogether probable, therefore, that 
it will be found in Northumberland Straits, the more especially 
as Caudina arenata, a southern Holothurian of very similar 
range, occurs there. It may be readily distinguished when 
alive from A. vulgaris by its usually greenish color and the 
bright red madreporic body in the angle between two of the 
rays, that of A. vulgaris being yellow. The only one of the 
Starfishes which is of any economic importance is the last- 
mentioned species, Asterias vulgaris, which is sometimes but 
to a very limited extent used as a fertilizer. It is also very 
injurious to oyster-beds, devouring great numbers of oysters. 
Of Echinoids or Sea-urchins we have but two species in the 
Acadian fauna proper, and one stragglei’ from the colder 
waters of the Nova Scotia banks. The two former Strongy- 
locentrotus dr<>bacliiensis and Echinaracluiius yarma are re- 
markable for their wide distribution, and N. drohachiensis for 
its great abundance. One can appreciate when he sees our 
shores in some places fairly carpeted with this species, the 
well known fact that as we approach the poles the number of 
species diminishes but that of individuals increases. In some 
parts of the world Sea-urchins are eaten, but ours probably 
have little value for such a purpose, though Dr. Stimpsom 
has tried them and found them edible, and the Exquimaux 
are said to eat their ‘‘spawn” or ova. Ecliinarachnius 
parma, according to Prof. Verrill, has a limited economic 
value for the indelible ink which may be made from its pul- 
verized skin and spines. 
Of Holothurians there are seven or eight species in our 
waters, only three or four of which are common. It is in this- 
