CHAP, v.] 



THE GVLF-STREAM. 



On the following day we sounded in 2500 fathoms ; and on 

 the 29th in 1075 fathoms, in sight of Bermudas, with a bottom 

 of coral mnd. The dredge was put over and veered to 1600 

 fathoms. It came np at noon with the pasty, mortar-like, life- 

 less contents which we find almost constantly on the slopes of 

 coral reefs ; the lime sediment was mixed w^ith a large propor- 



FiG. 105. 



■Ophioglypha hullata, Wwihi.K Thomson. Oral aspect. Five times the natural 

 size. (No. 54.) 



tion of the shells of pteropods and heteropods. Two fine speci- 

 mens of a hexactinellid sponge were hanging to the tangles, 

 both unfortunately dead and slightly water- worn. The largest 

 specimen, which seems to be nearly complete, is 120 mm. in 

 height, and shaped somewhat like an old-fashioned tall cham- 

 pagne-glass. It rests on a veiy solid hard base of attachment ; 

 it then contracts to a kind of stem, and then gradually expands 



