HOLOTHURIOIDEA 399 



them. Younger specimens are eaten by fishes {e.g. haddock, 

 })laice). 



In British seas this species is found at the north coasts of 

 Scotland, from north of Firth of Forth (Montrose) to the Clyde, 

 and at the Shetland and Orkney Islands, in places in immense 

 numbers. (Are called " Puddings " by the fishermen.) Bell 

 (Catalogue) also records it from Plymouth, but this is certainly 

 due to some error (as also the statement of its occurring off 

 Portugal is no doubt erroneous). It is elsewhere widely dis- 

 tributed over the Arctic Region, but is not known south of 

 Hardanger on the Scandinavian coasts. On the N. American 

 coasts it goes as far south as Massachusetts. Also recorded from 

 off Florida, but this again is no doubt due to an error. Some 

 related forms are known from the N. Pacific. Bathymetrical 

 distribution, 0-ca. 200 m. 



2. Cucumaria elongata Diiben and Koren. (Fig. 237, 2.) 



(Syn. Cucumaria pentactes Forbes ; (?) C . fusiformis 

 Forbes and Goodsir.) 



The body very elongate, attenuating towards both ends, 

 especially the posterior end being long and thin. Usually both 



Fig. 237. — 1. Cucumaria lactea. 2. Cue. elongata. 3. Cue. Hyndmani. 

 C. elongata with the tentacles retracted. All nat. size. (From 

 Danmark's Fauna.) 



ends are curved upwards, the body being thus bent like a U. 

 Tentacles small. Tube-feet in 5 distinct double rows, towards 

 the ends of the body more in zigzag rows ; they are not quite 

 retractile. Calcareous deposits of three different kinds (Fig. 238). 

 In the deeper parts of the skin is found a rather close layer of 

 larger, somewhat irregular, smooth plates with numerous small 



