GLASSY SEA-CUCUMRER. 221 



IJOLOTIIURIADM. PENT ACT JE. 



GLASSY SEA-CUCUMBER. 

 Cucvmaria liyallna. Forbes. 



Specific Cliaracter. — Body elongate, translucent, bluish- white ; suckers nu- 

 merous, alternate, in five rows ; intermediate spaces papillose ; tentacula pedun- 

 culate, plumose, white. 



Holoihuria pellucida, Fleming, Brit. Anim. p. 483. Forbes and Goodsir, 

 Athenaeum, No. 618. 



The Glassy Sea-Cucumber is a most beautiful and deli- 

 cate animal, being almost transparent and of an opaline hue. 

 It was discovered by Dr. Fleming in the Shetland seas, 

 and was refound by Mr. Goodsir and myself when dredg- 

 ing near Lerwick in 1839. In both cases it was referred 

 to the Holoihuria pellucida of Muller, which is doubtless a 

 nearly allied species, but differs from our animal in being 

 quite smooth. The smoothness and neeciness of the sur- 

 face of the Sea-Cucumbers is of great importance as a source 

 of specific character in the genus, being very constant. 

 When at rest, the Glassy Sea-Cucumber is of a fusiform 

 shape, and attenuated at each extremity. The tentacula 



