102 



THREE CRUISES OF THE " BLAKE.' 



STARFISHES. 1 



The predominant species of starfishes belong to the Gonias- 

 teridse and Archasteridse, families which seem thus far to have 

 flourished principally during the chalk. Not only is the number 

 of species belonging to these families very great, but also the 

 number of specimens brought up by the dredge. For instance, 

 Ar chaster mirabilis (Fig. 386) came up by hundreds; it is 



Fig. 377. Pentagonaster ternalis. 



a most variable species, extending from 56 fathoms to a depth 

 of 1,920 fathoms. The species of Archaster are common in all 

 depths of the Atlantic, and their number is great. Among the 



1 The account of the Starfishes col- 

 lected by the " Blake " is compiled from 

 the Report of Professor Perrier, pub- 



lished iu the "Nouvelles Archives du 

 Museum." 



