CHARACTERISTIC DEEP-SEA TYPES. HOLOTHURIANS. 87 



Huge species of Elasipoda were found in great numbers at 

 several stations beyond 1,000 fathoms. The same species were 

 also dredged by the U. S. Fish Commission, and the drawings 

 here given of the gigantic Benthodytes and Euphronides I owe 

 to the kindness of the Fish Commissioner, Professor Baird. 

 Benthodytes (Fig. 344) is flat below, convex above, of a trans- 



.. 



^*;*SV"ii*jj^y J fi.; f .' '^ ** 



Fig. 344. Benthodytes gigantea. (U. S. F. C.) 



lucent appearance, but of considerable consistency when fresh. 

 It was most difficult to preserve these huge holothurians in al- 

 cohol, and the specimens sent to Dr. The'el were too imperfect 

 for study. Euphronides (Fig. 345) resembles Benthodytes in 



^ 



Fig. 345. Euphronides cornuta. \. (U. S. F. C.) 



general outline, but in profile is high, slopes anteriorly and pos- 

 teriorly, and has a lobed posterior appendage and a series of ap- 

 pendages placed in pairs on the bevel of the anterior extremity. 

 It is of a reddish brown color. 



