8 THE FAUNA OF THE DEEP SEA 



down to a depth of 1,200 fathoms. Among other 

 forms a Ca/ryophyllia was found attached to the cable 

 at 1,100 fathoms, an oyster (Ostrea cochlear), two 

 species of Pecten, two gasteropods, and several worms. 

 The discoveries that had been made indicating 

 the existence of a deep-sea fauna led to the commis- 

 sion of H.M. ships ' Lightning ' and ' Porcupine/ and 

 the systematic investigation that was made by the 

 naturalists on these vessels brought home to the 

 minds of naturalists the fact that there is not only an 

 abysmal fauna, but that in places this deep-sea fauna 

 is very rich and extensive. The ' Lightning ' was 

 despatched in the spring of 1868 and carried on its 

 investigations in the neighbourhood of the Faeroe 

 Islands, but the vessel was not suitable for the 

 purpose and met with bad weather. The results, 

 however, were of extreme importance ; for, besides 

 solving many important points concerning the 

 distribution of ocean temperature, ' it had been 

 shown beyond question that animal life is both 

 varied and abundant at depths in the ocean 

 down to 650 fathoms at least, notwithstanding the 

 extraordinary conditions to which animals are there 

 exposed.' 



Among the remarkable animals dredged by the 



