62 ECHINODERMATA. 



unexampled in Nature, that " each animal of three others should have 

 remained several hours alive after losing the intestines."* 



The fact is, that the destruction or indemnity of the specimen may 

 depend on the mode whereby the parts are evacuated. If this ensues by 

 the anterior extremity of the Holothuria fusus, regeneration commonly 

 replaces them ; but if by the posterior extremity, the animal invariably 

 perishes. Probably the respiratory organs are irrecoverably injured, for 

 the rupture whereby the intestines escape is truly in the vicinity of the 

 great cloaca, with which they are so intimately connected. Even a slight 

 protrusion here is always a mortal symptom. 



The fact now related perhaps determines the nature of what is 

 called Trepan y, or Beche de Mer, so perplexing to naturalists, which is 

 carried from the Southern Ocean especially to China, as a delicacy for 

 the luxurious. 



But the species must be different from that which is under our con- 

 sideration, and may be more akin to the Holothuria pentactcs.~\ 



Propagation. The Holothuria fusus is a very prolific animal. Its 

 ample ovarium consists of many ropes of ova, these being discharged, as 

 already said, amidst an albuminous matter. The ropes terminate in ob- 



* Bohadsch, De quibusdam Animalibus Marinis, 6, pp. 88, 89, Dresdce, 1761, in 4to. 



} " On a reef of rocks near the island Raiatea, is a huge, unshapely, black, or brown 

 slug, here called biche, from six to seven inches long, and five to six broad. It is caught 

 in vast quantities, and not only regarded as a great delicacy by the natives, but, being cured, 

 has become a valuable article of commerce to the China market, whither it is carried from 

 many insular coasts of the Pacific by American ships. One of these disgusting masses of 

 morbid matter, endued with sensation, was taken into our boat. Being wounded, the dying 

 animal protruded all its entrails by the tail end, and leaving the apparent body a mere thick 

 skin. We have seen a number of lads fill three canoes in two hours with these sea snails." 

 Tyerman and Bennett Voyages and Travels in the South Sea Islands, 1821-29 ; vol. i. 

 p. 541 ; vol. ii. p. 256. 



Mr Beale speaks of the Beche de Mer, or worm of the sea, found at Oahoo, one of the 

 Sandwich Islands, being considered a great delicacy, though " almost as tough as caout- 

 chouc." Natural History of the Sperm Whale, p. 261. 



The reader may also consult Mr Frederick Dobell Bennett Narrative of a Whaling 

 Voyage round the Globe, 1833-36, vol. i. p. 175, where he identifies the Holothuria with 

 the Trepang, esteemed a delicacy by the luxurious. 



