112 



THREE CRUISES OF THE " BLAKE. 



a temperature of over 80 Fahr., which decreases gradually with 

 the depth, till, between 600 and 700 fathoms, it has fallen to 



Fig. 395. Ophioconis miliaria. |-. 



394. The American continents on one side, and the Antilles 



Fig. 396. Ophiomusium planum. l y 6 . 



on the other, furnish those great land masses the neighborhood 

 of which seems essential to rich and varied marine life. Their 



