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



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 Fabroe, 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 AmpMhelia oc- 

 curred more sparingly. 



FIG. 08. Fldbelhim 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. 



