110 THE FAUNA OF THE DEEP SEA 



with floating organisms of all kinds to reach the fauna 

 attached to the bottom at such a depth. The diminu- 

 tion in the amount of light must mean a diminution 

 in the rapidity of growth of chlorophyll-bearing plants, 

 and consequently a diminution in the food supplies of 

 animals drawn from that source. 



We might expect then to find, even in such shal- 

 low water as this, some forms of particular interest. 

 It is true that the greater part of the fauna is made 

 up of ordinary shallow-water forms that have migrated 

 quite recently, and perhaps only temporarily, into the 

 depths, but we expect to find, and actually do find, the 

 outposts of a new fauna. 



These remarks lead me to the consideration of 

 one or two very remarkable animals that have recently 

 been brought to light. 



In that strange assembly of animals which, for 

 want of a better word, the authorities call the Vermes, 

 there are three groups whose relations to one another 

 and to the other groups of Vermes have been and still 

 remain a puzzle to naturalists. 



These three groups are the Gephyrea, the Polyzoa. 

 and the Brachiopoda. In external form they are as 

 different from one another as possible. 



The Gephyrea are solitary worm-like forms bur- 



