198 BULLETIN OF THE 



some fine specimens of Schizaster, a new genus allied to Paleopneustes, 

 and also the same species of Cystechinus, with a hard test, and of Phor- 

 raosoma, which we had obtained before on the line from the Galapagos 

 to Acapulco. Beside these, there came up a number of specimens of an 

 interesting species of Pourtalesia, most closely allied to Pourtalesia 

 miranda, the first type of the group dredged in the Florida Channel 

 by Count Pourtales. 



The deeper haul was specially rich in Holothuriaus, among them a 

 fine large white Cucumaria, some specimens of Trochostoma, several 

 species of Bathodytes, some of them remarkable for their white color, 

 their huge size, and comparatively small number of ventral tentacles. 

 With these were numerous specimens of an interesting species of En- 

 phrouides. In this haul I was specially struck with the Elasipoda, and 

 the great variety in the consistency of the skin in individuals of one and 

 the same species ; it varied in different individuals from extreme tenuity 

 to a comparatively tough gelatine-like consistency. On carefully sifting 

 the mud, we found a number of interesting Foraminifera, and of deli- 

 cate and minute Gasterepods and Lamellibranchs, fragments of the shell 

 of an Argonauta, and two species of a huge ribbed Dentalium. Among 

 the Starfishes were specially noticeable a large Brisinga, a long-armed 

 Cribrella, and several species of Astropecten. The usual types of ^Yorms 

 were found in the mud at these greater depths. In addition to a num- 

 ber of Macruroids, we obtained a pink Amphionus, a large black Beryx- 

 like fish, a fine Nettastoma, and a couple of species of Lycodes. The 

 usual surface species of Stomias and of Scopelus also came up in the 

 trawl. Among the Crustaceans were a fine lot of Arcturus, of Colos- 

 sendeis, of Glyphocrangon, and of a Caridid with a deep blue patch on 

 the base of the carapace, making the strongest possible contrast to the 

 dark crimson coloring of the rest of the body. Blue is a very unusual 

 color in the deep-sea types, although the large eggs of some of the 

 deep-sea Macrurans are often of a light blue tint. 



We brought up in the trawl at various times, and subsequently also 

 in the Tanner net, from depths of less than 200 fathoms, the same 

 gigantic Ostracod which I mentioned in one of my previous letters, 

 several specimens of AtoUa, and fragments of a huge Periphylla. which 

 must have been at least fifteen inches in diameter. Also a most inter- 

 esting new type of Bougainvillia, remarkable for having eight clusters 

 of marginal tentacles, but only four chymiferous tubes. 



We continued our experiments with the Tanner tow-net. On the 

 16th of April, about 120 miles from Acapulco, we sent the net to tow 



