Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/198

170 yellow markings and black spots," as defended, like its larva and chrysalis, by nauseous qualities.— ]

Asterias tessellata, or Scutellated Star-fish.— During the month of January last I received from the Rev. J. Rae, of Lindisfarne, owner and occupier of the property whereon St. Cuthbert lived so many years, a very fine living specimen of Asterias tessellata, a species that I have never found on the east or north-east coast. It is also the first that any of the fishermen of Holy Island can remember having seen.

The Brittle Star, Ophiura granulata, I have also never seen on this beach, but I have had the species brought from the Farn Islands, where, I am told, it is plentiful. The dimensions of the specimens of O. granulata sent me were in thickness 1 in., diameter 7½ in., circumference 22 in. — (33, Western Hill, Durham).

[Asterias tessellata is given by Prof. Jeffrey Bell, in his 'Catalogue of the British Echinoderms,' as a synonym of Pentagonaster granularis, Retzius. The same authority gives as its distribution "both sides of North Atlantic; to Arctic Ocean and White Sea on the east." Mr. Percy Sladen, under the synonym of Pentagonaster balteatus, has described the species from the south-west coast of Ireland (lat. 51°1' N., long. 11° 50' W.). Forbes, in his 'History of British Starfishes,' does not mention it.

Ophiura granulata is, according to Prof. Bell (l.c. p. 129), a synonym of Ophiocoma nigra, Abilg., with a distribution as "Scandinavian Seas; Barents Sea." Forbes (l.c.), under the name of Ophiocoma granulata, records it having been found at Cornwall, Berwick, Strangford Lough, open sea on coasts of Down, Dublin, and Kirkwall Bay, Orkney. Thompson ('Natural History of Ireland') states that it is common on the Dublin coast.—]