THE MARINE FAUNA AND THE OVA OF FISHES. 195 



interesting forms were abundantly to be found at certain 

 localities. Thus the Featber-star [Antedon rosaceus), tbe 

 most interesting of Britisb Echinodermata, lives in large 

 numbers between the Mallard and the Cobbler Buoys, right 

 at the door, so to speak, of the Laboratory, for the spot is 

 but a few hundred yards from the building. A dredge put 

 down there for two or three minutes came up half full of 

 these beautiful and delicate creatures. Anyone wishing to 

 pursue the study of this animal's development and physiology, 

 subjects by no means yet exhausted, has to take very little 

 trouble in order to procure specimens. 



In other parts of the Sound only occasional specimens of 

 the Feather- star are met with. Sponges of various species 

 occur abundantly in the Sound, one curious species well- 

 known to naturalists is somewhat common ; it has usually a 

 globular or nearly globular form ; it reaches a large size, 

 some specimens being as big as a child's head. It has a hard 

 rind, which presents a regular reticulation on the surface. 

 This rounded mass {Raphyrus Gnffithsii, Bowbuk) would be 

 taken by everyone at first sight for a sea-worn stone, and there 

 is little doubt that it is a perfect example of what is technically 

 called mimicry ; the shape and appearance of a rounded 

 stone having been acquired by the sponge just because it is 

 then mistaken by predaceous animals for one of the stones 

 among which it lies on the sea-bottom. In the interior of 

 this sponge is always found an inorganic body, usually a 

 piece of shell, which served as its foundation when it began 

 to grow. 



The curious pipe-fishes, which look like grotesque fishes 

 carved out of a piece of walking stick, are also common in 

 the Sound. These are among the very few fishes which 

 take care of their eggs ; the male receives these when they 

 are shed into a pouch formed by the skin beneath his tail, 

 and there they remain while the young fish are developing, 

 and until they are hatched and escape. Thus the male in 

 this order has the same peculiar method of guarding his 

 progeny as the female kangai'oo in Australia. 



A great number of species of marine worms live on the 

 shores of the Sound and its estuaries. In the latter, digging 



