DISTRIBUTION IN DEPTH. 



441 



more tlian half were obtained from the maws of fishes, in Boston market. 

 Cod-fish do not swallow the large whelk-shells, but some idea of the number 

 they consume may be derived from the fact that Mr. Warington has obtained 

 the muscular foot and operculum of above 100 whelks, of large size, besides 

 quantities of Crustacea, from the maws of three cod-fish procured in the 

 London market. Bivalve shells, like the Solens, and the rare Panoptea Nor- 

 veyica are swallowed, and ejected again with eroded surfaces. The haddock 

 swallows shells still more indiscriminately, and Mr. Mc Andrew has found 

 great numbers of rare Pectens in them, but generally spoiled. The cat-fish 

 and skate break up the strongest shell-fish with their teeth— accounting for 

 the many angular fragments met with in the dredge, and in recent deposits. 

 The following are examples of shells obtained from great depths. 

 Norway. (Mc Andrew ) 



Living shells. 



Fathoms. 



Cerithium metula 20 — 1.50 



Margarita cinerea 10 — 130 



Dentalium entale 200 



Limea sarsii 120 



Leda pygmsea 200 



Yoldia limatula 120 



Thetis koreni 40_100 



Cryptodon flexuosus 200 



Off the Cape. (Belcher.) 



Buccinum ? clathratum 136 



Volutilithes ahyssicola 132 



Peotunculus Belcheri 120 



JEgcan. (Forbes.) 



Living. Dead. 



Terebratula vitrea 100 2-50 



Argiope decoUata 100 110 



Crania ringens 90 1.50 



JEf/ean. (Forbes.) 

 Living. 



Miirex vagiuatus 



Fusiis muricatus 80—95 



Nassa intermedia 



Cerithium lima 3—80 



Chenmitzia fasciata 



Eulima distorta 



Scalaria hellenica 



Rissoa reticulata 5-5 



Trochus exasperatus 10 — 105 



Scissurilla plicala 



Acmea uuicolor 60—105 



Dentalium quinquangulare 



Bulla utriculus 



Spondylus Gussouii 105 



Pecten Tioskynsii 



Area imbricata .... 90 — 230 



Ne£era cuspidata 12—185 



Thetis anatinoides 



Kellia a'.yssioola . . , .70— 180 

 Syndosmya profundissima 



Dead. 



150 



150 



4-5-185 



140 



110—150 



69—140 



110 



ia5 



165 

 70—150 



1.50 

 150—230 

 40—140 



185—200 



40-150 



200 



80—185 



Freservmg molluscous animals for examination. 



When shell-fish are killed by sudden immersion in hot water or strong 

 spirit, great and unequal contraction is caused, distorting the muscular parts 

 and rupturing the membranes. 



Experiments have yet to be made for the discovery of means whereby 

 these and other marine animals may be paralysed and killed, without alteriuo- 

 the ordinary condition of their organs.* 



Glycerine is the best medium for preserving such objects as the univalve 

 * The brittle-stars (OpJdocoma) are killed by sudden immersion in fresh-water ; 

 and the Actinue may be stupified by adding fresh-^ water drop by drop, until they lose 

 the power of retracting their tentacles. But the bivalves (such as Pholas) may be kept 

 in stale water till their valves fall off with incipient decomposition, and yet the mus- 

 cular siphons retain their irritability, and contract slowly and completely, when placed 

 in spirit. 



