98 



MARINE ANIMALS OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY. 



Cuvieria. (Cuvieria squamata D. & K.) 



The Holothurian of our coast, excelling all the rest in beauty, 

 is the Cuvieria. (Fig. 127.) As it lies on the sand, a solid red 

 lump, with neither grace of form nor beauty of color, even the 

 vividness of its tint growing dull and dead when it is removed 

 from its native element, certainly no one could suspect that it 

 possessed any hidden charm ; but place it in a glass bowl with 

 fresh sea-water ; the dull red changes to deep vivid crimson, the 

 tentacles creep out (Fig. 127) softly, and slowly, till the mouth 



Fifr. 127. 



is surrounded by a spreading wreath, comparable for richness of 

 tint, and for delicate tracery, to the most beautiful sea-weeds. 

 These tentacles, when fully expanded, are as long as the body it- 

 self. A limestone pavement composed of numerous pieces covers 

 almost the whole surface of the animal ; this apparatus cor- 

 responds, as we have already mentioned, to the warts containing 

 anchors in the Synapta ; but in the latter, the limestone parti- 

 cles are smaller, whereas in the Cuvieria they are developed to 

 a remarkable extent. Tliis animal is very sluggish, the ambula- 

 cral suckers, found only on three of the tubes, being arranged 

 in such a way as to form a sort of sole on which they creep ; 



Fig. 127. Cuvieria ; natural size. 



