THREE CKUISE.S OF THE "BLAKE. 



STAKFISHES. 



I 



The predominant species of starfishes belong to the Gonias- 

 teridaj and Archasteridse, families which seem thus far to have 

 flourished principally during the chalk. Not only is the number 

 of species belonging to these families very great, but also the 

 number of specimens brought up by the dredge. For instance, 

 Archastcr niirabills (Fig. 386) came up by hundreds; it is 



Fig-. 377. Peiitagonaster ternalis. -|. (Perrier. ) 



a most variable species, extending from 56 fathoms to a depth 

 of 1,920 fathoms. The species of Archaster are common in all 

 depths of the Atlantic, and their number is great. Among the 



1 The account of the Starfishes col- lished in the " Nouvelles Archives du 

 lected by the " Blake " is compiled from Museum." 

 the Report of Professor Perrier, pub- 



