HOLOTHURIA. 71 



Comparing the appearance of this Holothuria with the fmiis, it ox- 

 tended eighteen inches in length hy scarcely an inch in thickness, which, 

 from all I have seen, would be disproportionate in the other. The finniel 

 was above two inches deep, and the part immediately under it contracted 

 to a very small diameter. Five double rows of suckers run down the 

 whole length of the body, the intermediate skin between one double 

 row and the double row adjacent being smooth, and the distance sepa- 

 rating the double row from that next it exceedmg the distance sepai'ating 

 each single row of the pair from its fellow. 



The dimensions and the luxuriance of the teutacula continued aug- 

 menting. They acquired a deep purple colour, but remained always 

 smaller in comparison to those of the Holothuria fiisus, probably requir- 

 ing longer time to grow. Their functions seemed to be the same. 



In the next place, the creature began to decline ; and in sixteen 

 months from the first, its length contracted to three inches and a half. 

 I thought the excessive heat of the weather at the time most pernicious. 



Though occasionally reviving, it never recovered its proper size and 

 vigour ; and at last assuming the resemblance of a worm half a foot 

 long, and under half an inch thick, it died in nineteen months from 

 the date of its original acquisition. 



The skin proved extremely tough and coriaceous ; and several 

 small ropes of an immature ovarium were found in the body on dis- 

 section. 



For sonae time I was disposed to view this animal as an overgrown 

 specimen of the Holothuria fusus, especially before the parts were suffi- 

 ciently developed. But between the two, we find several prominent 

 distinctions. First, the disparity of size and proportions ; next, in lon- 

 gitudinal double rows of suckers down the body, whereas those of the 

 fusus are distributed promiscuously over the whole surface, and thence 

 much more numerous, comparativel}'. The difference ui the i)roportions 

 of each, would render the flexures seen in the one impracticable by the 

 other. 



No important difference distmguished the habits of the two. 



In the course of a number of years, I have had three yoimger 



