272 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [cHAP. VI. 
of unusually fine globigerina deposit and some small 
stones. The second instrument came up quite full of 
the deposit ; but it was neither so free from amorphous 
matter, nor did it contain any of the small stones. 
Adhering, however, to the last fifty fathoms of line, 
which had rested on the ground for several moments, 
were thirteen ophiocome, varying in diameter across 
the arms from two to five inches.” The misfortune 
of these star-fishes was that they did not go into the 
dredge ; had they done so, they would at once have 
achieved immortality. Now, of course, we have no 
doubt that they came from the bottom, but their 
irregular mode of appearance left, in the condition 
of knowledge and prejudice at the time, a loophole 
for scepticism. 
In three soundings, including that in which the 
star-fishes were obtained, at 1,260, 1,918, and 1,268 
fathoms respectively, ‘“‘minute cylindrical tubes oc- 
curred, varying from one-eighth to half an inch in 
length, and from one-fiftieth to one-twentieth of an 
inch in diameter. These were built up almost ex- 
clusively of very small globigerina shells, and still 
more minute calcareous débris cemented together.” 
. “The shells forming the outer layer of the 
tubes were colourless, and freed of all sarcodic 
matter; but the internal surface of the tubular 
cylinder was lined with a delicate yet distinct layer 
of reddish chitine.”’ Dr. Wallich is satisfied that 
these tubes contained some species of annelid. “In 
a sounding taken in lat. 63° 31’ N., long. 13° 45° W., 
in 682 fathoms, a portion of a serpula-tube five- 
twelfths of an inch in length, and about three- 
sixteenths of an inch in diameter, belonging to a 
