432 



THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. 



[chap. VII. 



Lophohelia prolifera, Pallas (Fig. 30, p. 109). 

 — Many varieties ; abundant at depths from 150 

 to 500 fathoms all along the west coasts of Scot- 

 land and Ireland, at temperatures varying from 

 0° to 10° C. In some places, — as, for example, at 

 Station 54, between Scotland and Fieroe, and Station 

 15, between the west coast of Ireland and the 

 Porcupine Bank, — there seem to be regular banks 

 of it, the dredge coming up loaded with fragments, 

 living and dead. 



Five allied species of the genus Amphihelia oc- 

 curred more sparingly. 



Fig. G8.— Flabelhtmdistinctum Twice the natural size. (No. 2S, 1870.) 



Allopora oculina, Ehrenberg, a very beautiful 

 form, of which a few specimens were procured in the 

 ' cold area,' at depths a little over 300 fathoms. 



Thccopsammia socialis, Pourtales (Fig. 09), a form 

 closely allied to Balanophyllia, and resembling some 

 crag species. It had been previously dredged by 

 Count Pourtales in the Gulf of Florida. Thcco- 

 psammia is tolerably common in deep water in the 

 ' cold area,' growing in patches, five or six examples 

 sometimes coming' up on one stone. 



