144: 



ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



discovered many beautiful and curious forms — 

 minute jelly-like creatures {Foraminiferci) that 

 secrete shells that form a part of the unseen 

 ocean rain. The deep-water star-fishes were 

 especially interesting, nearly all being delicate 

 brittle forms that broke and fell in pieces upon 

 being handled. 



The dredge, and especially a drag-net, which 

 was towed astern, brought in many curious fishes 



floating at the sur- 

 face ; the young of 

 many kinds, which 

 the doctor pointed 

 out, did not resemble 

 their parents in the 

 least ; the young of 

 crabs in various 

 stages, known as the 

 zcea and nauplius — 

 little creatures with 

 spines and barbs, that were floating in bits of 

 sea-weed. But the most gorgeous creatures 

 were the jelly-fishes, which were often caught 

 in such numbers that they fairly clogged the 



Brittle .star. 



