OUT OF THE DEPTHS 133 



a new species, and not merely a curious variety. 

 Alas ! it arrived at the Museum during holiday 

 time, and was so utterly broken to pieces before 

 it could be examined that it was impossible to 

 identify it. I have sent up several Comatulse in 

 spirits ; in sea water they invariably break in 

 pieces. Some take their place in the spirit room 

 of the Museum with many others, to illustrate 

 the geographical distribution of the species ; 

 others went to a distinguished scientific inquirer, 1 

 who was making a microscopic investigation of 

 the parasites which infest them a proof of the 

 fact that the dredge opens another half- explored 

 world to the microscopic student. 



Other starfish make their appearance in large 

 numbers ; numerous specimens of the common 

 brittle sandstar, with those long, snaky arms, from 

 which the various members of the family take 

 their generic name of Ophiura ; quantities of 

 beautiful rosy sun-stars, with twelve to fifteen 

 rough, bristly rays, symmetrically arranged ; of 

 all sizes, from great fellows as big as a plate, to 

 little ones not larger than a shilling ; and, more 

 rarely, their near relation, the purple sun-star, 

 different in colour and shape, and much smoother 

 in its texture, with only nine to eleven rays. 

 Eyed cribellas also come to the surface, rosy and 

 stiff, not looking the least like live creatures and 

 determined enemies of the oysters, whelks and 



1 The late Dr. Carpenter. 



