60 A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SEAS 



by lashing the water with innumerable hairs or cilia, before 

 settling down upon the sea bed. Some are scavengers 

 and the majority are highly predacious. 



The Sea Cucumbers {Holothuria) and Sea Gherkins 

 {Cucumaria) have elongated bodies of more or less cucumber 

 form, the entire end carrying the mouth surrounded by 

 five or more appendages suggesting ragged fingered 

 hands, which seize food particles and pass them into the 

 creature's interior. 



The Arctic seas abound with monstrous forms which may 

 measure two or three feet in length when fully extended. 

 On our coasts the commonest is the Sea Gherkin {Cucumaria 

 saxicola), of milky- white colour with delicate lilac " hands." 

 It usually hides in rock crevices, but sometimes ventures 

 forth to " walk " some distance by means of the five rows 

 of tube " feet," which are arranged evenly around the body. 

 On molestation this and others of the group withdraw the 

 " hands " and tube " feet," the whole subsiding into a 

 mere cylindrical lump of inert matter. 



The Cotton Spinner {Holothuria niger) is a large species 

 from deep water. It is chocolate in colour and has the 

 tube feet arranged not in rows but scattered irregularly 

 over its foot-long body. On being sufficiently irritated 

 the creature throws out vast numbers of white adhesive 

 threads. So numerous and strong are these that a fair- 

 sized lobster once enmeshed in them may be literally bound 

 hand and foot, despite its vigorous struggles. 



Sea Cucumbers, like other Echinoderms, are subject 

 to all manner of parasites and camp followers. A Mediter- 

 ranean species is commonly infested by a small fish — 

 {Fierasfer) — that passes in and out of the Cucumaria's 



