THE GREAT DEEPS 119 



hindering. There are many Bacteria in the 

 surface-waters of the sea, where they help in 

 the circulation of matter, but there do not seem 

 to be any in the great depths. That means 

 that there is no rotting, for there is no rotting 

 without Bacteria. If a dead whale sinks to 

 the floor of the sea, with its flesh compacted 

 together like pressed beef, it is nibbled to 

 fragments by crustaceans and other scavengers, 

 and all of it is devoured or dissolved, save the 

 cowrie-like ear-bones which are almost as hard 

 as stone. But the microscopic atomies in their 

 never-ending shower count for much more than 

 the carcases of whales. 



A REPRESENTATIVE FAUNA 



It is interesting to find that the assemblage 

 of animals on the floor of the Deep Sea is 

 not a picked one, but very representative. 

 There are many simple microscopic creatures 

 Foraminifers and Radiolarians ; many horny 

 and flinty (but no calcareous) sponges ; sea- 

 anemones and corals ; worms of many kinds 

 in abundance ; star-fishes, brittle-stars, sea- 

 urchins, sea-cucumbers, and many sea-lilies ; 

 numerous crustaceans and quaint creatures 



