56 THE GREAT BARRIER REEF. 



consequence of the tenuity of its muscular layers, which shrink to unprofitable proportions in the 

 curing process. Like that form, however, it is occasionally mixed among the better kinds, to aug- 

 ment their bulk. No. i, Holofliiiria saiiguinolcnia, much resembles, at first sight, the black 

 species extended in the foreground of the Lady Elliot Island reef-view. It differs from it, how- 

 ever, in several essential respects. In the first place, it does not discharge, when irritated, 

 a stream of cottonj'-white adhesive filaments, "Cuvierian organs," as does its ally. On the 

 other hand, it exudes a purplish fluid from the surface of its integument when handled roughly. 

 The popular title assigned to this variety of Beche-de-mer is that of the "Small Lolly-fish." 

 The origin of the title is somewhat obscure, but tlie name has been apparently applied to it in respect 

 of its near resemblance to an allied species, Holothwia vagabiiiuhi, known as ordinary, or "Large 

 Lolly-fish," found more plentifully on the outer reef-areas, whose skin surface, when dried, 

 presents the appearance of being divided into roughened lozenge-shaped areas. 



The second species of Beche-de-mer figured, Holothuria (Boliadschia) argiis, is remarkable 

 for its conspicuous colour ornamentation. The ground tint in this variety is usually bright lilac, 

 superimposed on which tint are chain-like series of rounded or ovate spots of a golden-brown 

 hue ; these spots are commonly encircled by adark-brown inner line and a whitish outer line. 

 No two individuals, however, are precisely similar in their pattern of decoration. A coloured 

 illustration of the species is given in Fig. 7 of Plate XII. of the chromo-lithographic series. Like 

 the common black inshore Holothuria aim, it discharges a copious stream of tenacious cotton-like 

 filaments when handled, and is of but little commercial use. 



The third species illustrated in Plate XXXIV. represents the most valuable marketable 

 variety. The commercial title applied to it is that of the "Teat-fish," the name having reference 

 to the series of mammiform excrescences developed along each side ; these are most conspicuous 

 in living examples, but are also more or less prominent in the cured fish. With reference 

 to the peculiar tooth-like armature of the vent, this Beche-de-mer is referable to the genus 

 Actinopyga ; and, in the absence of any discoverable prior intelligible specific description, 

 it is here associated by the author with the combined generic and specific titles of Actinopyga 

 mamillata. 



PLATE XXXV. 



VARIETIES OF TREPMG OR BECHE-DE-MER. 



Of the two species of Holothuriae or Beche-de-mer illustrated by this plate, the upper 

 figure represents a type, Holothuria coluber, or the snake-like Beche-de-mer, that much resembles 

 in aspect and general habits the common black H. atra, previously referred to. It may easily be 

 distinguished from that form, however, by the pale primrose-yellow tint of the extensile tentacles, 

 and by the fact that it does not discharge cotton-like Cuvierian filaments when irritated. 



