CHAPTER VI 



CRUSTACEA OF THE DEEP SEA 



IT has already been mentioned that the animals 

 living on the sea-bottom in shallow water do not 

 differ greatly in character from those that may be 

 found between tide-marks. As we go farther out 

 from land, however, into the deeper water, the 

 character of the fauna gradually changes. One by 

 one the species found near the shore become rare 

 and disappear, and their places are taken by others 

 characteristic of the intermediate depths. These in 

 their turn give way to others, till in the abysses of 

 the great oceans we find an assemblage of strange 

 animals adapted to the conditions of life in the great 

 depths, and differing widely in many respects from 

 the more familiar inhabitants of the coastal waters. 

 In this " fauna of the deep sea," which extends to 

 the greatest depths reached by the dredge or trawl, 

 the Crustacea occupy a prominent place. Before pro- 

 ceeding to discuss some of these peculiar forms, 

 however, it is necessary to attempt to form some 

 idea of the conditions under which they live. 



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