SECRETS OF THE OCEAN 155 



Then at the surface, notes can be made, and speci- 

 mens which have been overlooked, felt for during 

 the next trip beneath the surface. Fronds of 

 laminaria yards in length, like sheets of rubber, 

 offer convenient holds, and at their roots many 

 curious creatures make their home. Serpent star- 

 fish, agile as insects and very brittle, are abun- 

 dant, and new forms of worms, like great slugs, 

 their backs covered with gills in the form of tufted 

 branches. 



In these outer, eternally submerged regions are 

 starfish of still other shapes, some with a dozen 

 or more arms. I took one with thirteen rays and 

 placed it temporarily in a pool aquarium with 

 some large anemones. On returning in an hour 

 or two I found the starfish trying to make a meal 

 of the largest anemone. Hundreds of dart-covered 

 strings had been pushed out by the latter in de- 

 fence, but they seemed to cause the starfish no 

 inconvenience whatever. 



In my submarine glimpses I saw spaces free 

 from seaweed on which hundreds of tall polyps 

 were growing, some singly, others in small tufts. 

 The solitary individuals rise three or four inches 

 by a nearly straight stalk, surmounted by a many- 

 tentacled head. This droops gracefully to one 

 side and the general effect is that of a bed of 

 rose-coloured flowers. From the heads hang 

 grape-like masses, which on examination in a 

 tumbler are seen to be immature medusae. Each 



