270 Miscellaneous. 



cimens taken from the G ataxias are from 14; to 3 inches in length, 

 and, as Rudolphi has described them, they are thickish in form, 

 obtuse at both extremities ; and the larger ones were of a blood-red 

 colour, which, however, has disappeared since they were placed in 

 spirits. It was interesting to discover whether this was a new species 

 or not, and whether it had existed in the body of the fish before 

 it left Australia. A comparison with the specimen of Filaria san- 

 guinea in the collection of Entozoa in the British Museum, trans- 

 mitted to us by Mr. Siebold, leaves no doubt on my mind of its 

 identity with that species ; and therefore in all probability these 

 Worms have been developed in the cavity of the abdomen of this 

 little Galaxias since it was placed in the tank at the Zoological 

 Gardens, or during its passage from Australia to this country. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Observations on the Existence of various Mollusca and Zoophytes 

 at very great Depths in the Mediterranean. By Dr. Alph. 

 Milne-Edwards. 



In this memoir the author, who appears to be ignorant or regardless 

 of the still more striking observations of Dr. Wallich, published in 

 this Journal, communicates some instances of the occurrence of ani- 

 mal lite at great depths in the sea. Two examples were communi- 

 cated to him by M. Valenciennes, — one of Voluta junonia, Sch., 

 taken by Capt. Letourneur, in the Gulf of Mexico, at a depth of 

 about 70 fathoms ; the other of Lima excavata, Midi., dredged from 

 a depth of 264 fathoms, by M. Hoeg, on the coast of Greenland. 



The other instances cited by the author were obtained by the ex- 

 amination of portions of the submarine telegraphic cable formerly 

 laid between Sardinia and Algeria, and removed in consequence of 

 some defect causing the interruption of the communication. The 

 fragments examined by Dr. Milne-Edwards were brought up from 

 the broad submarine valley, measuring from 1000 to 1500 fathoms 

 in depth, between B6ne and Cagliari ; and amongst the foreign 

 bodies adhering to them the author found several polypidoms and 

 shells which were still living when removed from the water. One of 

 the mollusks was a species of Oyster (Ostrea cochlear) which is met 

 with abundantly in various parts of the Mediterranean, and is known 

 to inhabit deep water, as it is frequently brought up by the coral- 

 fishers, whose operations are generally carried on at from 50 to 75 

 fathoms. The animal had evidently attached itself to the cable when 

 very young, and here attained its adult condition ; for its lower valve, 

 about 2-| inches in diameter, had completely moulded itself upon 

 the surface of the cable, and had become deformed in order to em- 

 brace one-half of its circumference. On another point there was 

 also attached, although less firmly, a specimen of the common Medi- 

 terranean Pecten opercutaris, Lamk., of the variety P. Audouini, 

 Perrod. There was also another Pecten which is very rare in col- 



