174 THE SEA. 



it would appear that all preconceived notions as to 

 the bathymetrical limits whereby animal life is cir- 

 cumscribed in the sea are more or less erroneous. 

 The mighty ocean contains its hidden animate as well 

 as inanimate treasures ; and it is probable that, 

 under proper management, the former may speedily 

 be brought to light, whatever may be the ultimate 

 fate of the latter. In short, we are almost warranted, 

 from the evidence already at our command, in infer- 

 ing that, although hitherto undetected, a submarine 

 fauna exists along the bed of the sea, and that means 

 and opportunities are alone wanting to render it amen- 

 able to the scrutiny of the naturalist. 



" In sounding midway between Greenland and the 

 north-west coast of Ireland, at 1260 fathoms that is, 

 at a mile and a half below the surface, in round num- 

 bers several Opliiocomce were brought up, clinging by 

 their long spinous arms to the last fifty fathoms of line. 

 They were alive, and continued to move their limbs 

 about energetically for upwards of a quarter of an 

 hour after leaving their native element. The species 

 seems allied to 0. gramdata (LINK), the specimens 

 varying from two to five inches across the rays. Lest 

 it be supposed that these Ophiocomce were floating or 

 drifting in the water at any point intermediate be- 

 tween the surface and bottom, it is only necessary to 

 mention, that the determination of depth having been 

 effected by a separate operation and apparatus, the 

 more tedious process of bringing up the sample of 

 bottom is entered on ; and, owing to the difficulty of 



