324 Miscellaneous, 



In this state its substance shrank up under the sun, and became of 

 a pale brown or sponge-colour ; but when its animals were expanded 

 under water, this lobed fleshy mass was thickly spangled with golden 

 stars, and looked very lovely. Several naked Mollusca, of gay co- 

 lours and beautiful forms, glided among the corals ; but I could only 

 do them homage and release them again. 



'* There were, besides, countless soft creatures allied to sea- 

 anemones — in fact quite an anemonic paradise. I found but few 

 shells, and these for the most part rough and common." — Mem. of 

 Dr. Harvey, p. 298. 



North- Atlantic Dredging-expedition. 



The Royal Society has applied to the Admiralty for the use of a 

 steamer in order to continue the investigations so ably commenced 

 by Dr. Carpenter and Prof. Wyville Thomson ; and the ' Porcupine ' 

 has been placed at their disposal. The expedition will take place 

 about the middle of May ; and the deep water, from 1100 to 1300 

 fathoms, near the EockaU Bank will be first explored, and after- 

 wards the sea-bottom lying off the outer Hebrides and the Shetland 

 Isles. Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys wUl take charge of the expedition for the 

 first period of a month or six weeks. Prof. Wyville Thomson for the 

 second period, and Dr. Carpenter for the last. 



Land-Leeches of Ceylon. By Dr. Haevet. 



" We ascended a steep mountain-pass through dense jungle (near 

 ParaguUa in Ceylon), where were plenty of land-leeches ; and as I 

 stopped to pick some off my gaiters I said, ' Well they are not much 

 trouble after all,' when, looking at my wrist, there was a great leech 

 sucking his fill ; this was the only bite I got. I must admit these 

 leeches are annoying ; you cannot stand a moment on the grass 

 without seeing a troop of them coming towards j'ou from every side ; 

 fast they come, and are soon up your legs if you are without gaiters ; 

 and they are always hungry. The naked legs and feet of our coolies 

 were streaming with blood. They aboiind everywhere in the grass and 

 dead leaves ; nor can you when walking in the garden leave the gravel 

 without being attacked." — Memoir of Dr. Harvey, p. 258. 



The Loaf Starfish (Culcita). 



" At Tonga I met vnth a very remarkable Starfish, of the penta- 

 gonal form {Culcita), as large and as thick as a four-pound loaf of 

 bread ; but it has greatly shrunk in the drying, and is now quite 

 fiat, and only an inch in thickness. Three others I have cut open 

 and skinned, and have their skins and skeletons. In the stomach 

 of each was a fish some inches long. How such a sluggard could 

 persuade a lively and sensible fish to walk into his stomach is to me 

 a mystery." — Mem. of Dr. Harvey, p. 308. 



