[19] ALBATROSS EXPLOEATIONS. 521 



Trere undescribed and others not before. known from this region. The 

 species of simple-armed Astrophytonidce, taken by the "Albatross," have 

 been referred to on previous pages [pp., 8, 10]. They are often found 

 clinging to the Pennatulacea and Gorgonians, in large numbers, in com- 

 pany with the various species of OpMacantha. 



The very common species, Antedon dentata, was the only crinoid ob- 

 tained, with the exception of fragments and young of Bhisocrinus (fig. 

 57). Of the former we also took a few young specimens, in the attached 

 or stemmed condition (fig. 58). 



A fine species of stalked crinoid belonging to the genus, BentJiocrinus, 

 was dredged in 1884, in 2,021 fathoms, off Chesapeake Bay. 



OEUSTACEA. 



The Crustacea were very numerous and included many new forms of 

 great interest. According to the report of Prof. S. I. Smith* there were 

 fifty-seven species of deep-water Decapod Crustacea, besides fifteen shal- 

 low-water ones. Of these he has described uineteen as new. At the 

 single haul in 2,949 fathoms six species were taken, while thirteen oc- 

 curred below 2,000 fathoms, and twenty -nine below 1,000 fathoms. 



The twenty -nine species taken below 1,000 fathoms include twenty- 

 one Caridea, or true shrimp, two Eryontidse, three Galatheidae, one Pa- 

 guroid, one Lithodes, and one Brachyuran belonging to the DorippidsB. 



"It is interesting to compare these results with the lists of the fauna 

 of the North Atlantic below 1,000 fathoms, given by the Rev. Dr. i^or- 

 man in the presidential address to the Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club, 

 published last year. In Dr. Norman's lists only twelve species of Deca- 

 pod a are recorded, none of them from as great a depth as 2,000 fathoms, 

 and of these twelve species seven were known only from the 'Blake' 

 dredgings of 1880." 



In the course of subsequent studies Professor Smith has added a few 

 more species to the list. 



The deep-sea Crustacea are neither degraded in structure nor small in 

 size. Among them are representatives of all the higher groups, while 

 many of the species are remarkable for their great size. A true crab 

 {Geryon quinquedens Smith, fig. 156), common in 105 to 816 fathoms, is one 

 of the largest crabs known, for the massive body is often 5 inches long and 

 6 broad. It is dark red in color. The great spiny spider-crab [Lithodes 

 Agassizii Smith, fig. 151), first described from the "Blake" collection, but 

 also taken in 1882 and 1883 by the Fish Commission, measures over 3 feet 

 across the outspread legs, while the body is 7 inches long and 6 broad, and 

 covered with long, sharp spines. It ranges from 410 to 1,255 fathoms. 

 Several of the shrimp are nearly a foot long, not including the anten- 

 nae, which, like the legs, are often remarkable for their great length and 

 slenderness. 



* Eeport of the United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, Part X, for 1882 

 (published 1884), p. 345, and American Journal of Science, vol. 28, p. 53, July, 1884. 



