GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTIOX. 41 



for miles with entangled cables of this plants much thicker 

 than the human body. 



We have much to learn respecting the inhabitants of the 

 deep water, animal as well as vegetable, especially in foreign 

 climes. The surpassing richness and variety of submarine 

 scenery in favoured seas, must have an almost overpowering 

 effect on the intelligent observer, during a voyage of scien- 

 tific research. Respecting submarine scenery in general at 

 Macao in China, Mr. Adams, of the Samarang, writes : — 



" Dendritic zoophytes, having their branches loaded with 

 coloured Polypi, like trees covered with delicate blossoms, 

 richly uprose from the clear bottom of the bay, distinct 

 and characteristic in their specific forms, and contrasting 

 strangely and powerfully with those most apathetic and 

 stone-like combinations of the plant, the animal, and the 

 rock, — the Madrepores, the Millepores, and the NuUipores. 

 Mat, and immoveably extended on the sand, in the bare 

 spots between the Corallines, were impassive, large, blue, 

 five-fingered Asterias ; and, crawling with an awkward 

 shuffling movement, like an Octopus j were numbers of the 

 slender Ojohiurce, with their snaky arms, groping their way 

 among the weeds, and striving to insinuate their writhing 

 forms among the coral masses. Eixed flower-like Actinice 



