432 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [CHAP. vn. 



Lophohelia prolifera, PALLAS (Fig. 30, p. 169). 

 Many varieties ; abundant at depths from 150 

 to 500 fathoms all along the west coasts of Scot 

 land and Ireland, at temperatures varying from 

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

 Station 54, between Scotland and F&roe, 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. 68. Flabellum distinctum Twice the natural size. (No. 28, 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. 



Thecopsammia socialis, POURTALES (Fig. 69), a form 

 closely allied to Balanophyllia, and resembling some 

 crag species. It had been previously dredged by 

 Count Pourtales in the Gulf of Florida. Theco 

 psammia is tolerably common in deep water in the 

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

 sometimes coming up on one stone. 



