COEAL PARASITES. 55 



ing all attempts at dislodgement ; till suddenly, on 

 a moment's respite, the creature would rear up its 

 leprous form, like Satan before Ithuriel, and try to 

 scud away. A species of Aphrodite was numerous, 

 which on being handled thrust out bundles of white 

 silky bristles that adhered to the fingers ; their points 

 had been visible before, just projecting from the 

 sides. Star-fishes (Ophiurat), of two or three species, 

 entwined their snake-like tails in the crevices, and 

 were difficult to get out ; and when out, usually 

 broke into fragments. One specimen dismembered 

 itself the moment it left the water, before it had been 

 touched. 



A very singular creature was found on one piece of 

 coral, which seems to approach the Holothurice. Tlie 

 body consists of a slender membranous bag of great 

 length, of soft semi-transparent skin, filled with sea- 

 water while immersed, and thei-efore plump and 

 round; but on being lifted out the water escapes 

 from some orifice, and the sac-like body becomes 

 empty and flaccid. It is rather gaily coloured, being 

 whitish on the under side, and yellow on the back, 

 with broad transverse bands of dark brown. Around 

 the mouth are set about fourteen broadly fringed 

 tentacles, some of which in turn were continually 

 bending inward towards the mouth. It was lively in 

 its motions, twisting about in the water with con- 

 siderable vivacity. 



Besides these, some of the masses sheltered tiny 

 fishes, brilliantly coloured, of the genus Lahrus ; a 

 species of Sea-slug [Aplysia), and many other curious 



