HOLOTHURIA. 57 



the Holothuria seems of quite a diflferent character, — at least as far as 

 hitherto proved by observation. 



It is e^^dentJ however, that the reproductive energies with which 

 this curious animal is endowed are of the most powerful kind. 



The preceding facts, diligently noted on their occurrence, were con- 

 firmed by other examples throughout a course of years. Therefore, 

 notwithstanding the detail, perhaps too prolix, already given, I shall add 

 a few illustrations relative to the various features distinguishing the na- 

 ture of this species of the Holothuria. They must be considered only 

 as detached remarks, collected from irregular opportunities of observa- 

 tion, not as discussion from a connected narrative. 



The Holothuria fasas dwells in the northern seas, about Orkne}- 

 and Shetland, also in the estuary of the Forth, where it occurs occasion- 

 ally, though very rarely, as far up as opposite to the city of Edinburgh, 

 and lives in different places down to the open ocean. It is probably 

 more abundant in certain districts, for Nature seems to have appointed 

 a particular region as more congenial to each different tribe of her ani- 

 mated products. If so, why should a creature be rare whose progeny- 

 may amount to 5000 in a single season ? Those reaching me, indeed, 

 were recovered only by chance ; but, if memory serves, I learned in 

 March 1838, from a skilful naturahst. Professor Goodsir, that during a 

 violent storm on the first of the same month, numbers were cast ashore 

 at Anstruther Easter, in the county of Fife. 



Five specimens were at that time in my possession. 



The colour of the Holothuria obtained, in as far as I could discover 

 from deep water or the open sea, is white, and thence of every shade to 

 dark grey ; the arborescent apparatus then seems to be dark crimson. 

 The animals are besides sometimes of a straw-yellow colour. 



The body in good specimens is three inches or little more in length, 

 and in these the tentacula in full display extend as much, being quite as 

 long as the body. Specimens seldom occur of larger size. But this 

 may be from the persons employed in their pursuits of the fisheiy fail- 

 ing to resort to places the most favourable for increment. Such speci- 



H 



