66 THE SEAS 



Representatives of the Foraminifera, which Uve in 

 limy shells often consisting of a series of chambers spirally 

 arranged, are amongst the smallest members of the bottom 

 fauna. On hard surfaces grow great masses of sponge, such 

 as the yellow Clione and Desmascedon, which produces 

 endless amounts of slime so that when it is put in a bucket 

 of water the whole becomes thick and sticky. Many 

 crustaceans and worms burrow into these sponges or 

 shelter in the crevices. On muddy bottoms the most 

 striking inhabitants are the sea pens, creatures allied to the 

 anemones and hydroids, but consisting of a main, central 

 stem from the upper half of which spring branches bearing 

 tiny polyps, the whole being distinctly reminiscent of a 

 quill pen. Thick growths of hydroids and miniature 

 forests of the beautiful pink coloured gorgonids or sea 

 fans (Plate 26), the numerous branches of which extend all 

 in the one plane, like a fan, are both found on rock or 

 stones. Here also live the beautiful Crinoids or feather- 

 stars (Plate 24), another group of the starfish family, which 

 hold on to the bottom by means of a series of outgrowths 

 from the under side of the body, while their ten delicate, 

 foliaceous arms wave about in the water above. They 

 begin life attached, like the sea lilies of which we shall speak 

 later, but afterwards break off and swim with graceful 

 movements of their arms. The British representative is red, 

 brown or yellow in colour and one of the most beautiful 

 members of our marine fauna. Many brittlestars and a 

 variety of starfish, such as the fifteen armed purple and 

 rosy sun-stars [Solaster) (Plate 15), the red cushion -star 

 {Porania) and the large yellow Luidia occur in different 

 localities, while burrowing urchins (Plate 20) ana sea 

 cucumbers are found on soft, and sea gherkins on hard, 

 bottoms. 



Amongst the many worms are included burrowers in 



