46 On the ' Travailleur ' Zoological Exploration. 



riclas are represented by the genera Ophioglypliaj OpModerma, 

 OpMacantlia^ Opliiothrix^ Amptkiura^ and Asteronyx. A 

 species remarkable for its short and raised, arms was previ- 

 ously unknown ; it was found at 390 metres, and has been 

 designated Astrophis pyramidalis. We may also cite nume- 

 rous examples of Phormosoma, which seem to belong to two 

 species — one identical with Phormosoma liystrix, Wyv. Th., 

 and another that we found last year in the Bay of Biscay. 



Sponges were collected in great numbers ; most of them, 

 captured at more than 1000 metres, belong to the type Hex- 

 actinellida3. We cannot here furnish a complete list of them. 

 We may indicate several Farrece^ Aphrocallistes Bocagei^ 

 Holtenia Carpentaria Sympagella nux, Hyalonema lusitanicum, 

 Pheronema Carpenteri^ and a magnificent specimen of Asco- 

 nema setuhalense. Two fine specimens of Euplectella suherea 

 were taken off the Berlingues at 3307 metres ; a little farther 

 north the dredge brought up a new species allied to the Field- 

 ingice^ which has been named by M. Vaillant Parafieldingia 

 sociaUs *. 



In samples of the bottom from the Mediterranean M. Certes 

 was unable to find any Infusoria ; a sounding taken in the 

 ocean at 1145 metres furnished him with an organism which 

 may belong to that group and. with a fine Euglypha of elon- 

 gated form, resembling both in form and structure the fresh- 

 water DifflugicB described by Dr. Leidy. 



In a report so brief as this I have only been able to indicate 

 the most remarkable results acquired for science by the expe- 

 dition of the ' Travailleur.' It is possible, however, now to 

 form some idea of the numerous materials for study that we 

 have collected ; and it may be asserted, without fear of con- 

 tradiction, that one could not now hope to gather so ample a 

 harvest of new facts by exploring with ordinary means even 

 the most distant regions of the globe. These submarine 

 explorations promise still further revelations ; and we must 

 continue them. It will not do for France to leave to others 

 the care of studying the depths of the seas which bathe her 

 shores ; it is a task that belongs to her, and she must make 

 its accomplishment a point of honour. 



* The spherical spicular aggregations, instead of being enclosed in a 

 spiculosarcodic tissue, as in the Fieldhu/iai, are contained in a loose felted 

 mass composed of long acicular sclerites. 



