AKNTVERSABY ADDEESS. 15 



and in conjunction with a living Spirorbis. Other free Annelids 

 and two Arnphipod Crustaceans, were also taken alive at 445 

 fathoms. 



"But by far the most interesting discovery remains to be 

 noticed. In sounding not quite mid- way between Cape Farewell 

 and Kockall, -in 1.260 fathoms, whilst the sounding apparatus 

 brought up an ample specimen, of coarse gritty looking matter, 

 consisting of about 95 per cent, of clean Glohigerina shells, a 

 number of starfishes, belonging to the genus Ophiocoma, came up 

 adherent to the lowest 50 fathoms of the deep sea-line employed. 

 The quantity of line had been paid out in excess of the depth 

 which was determined by a different operation ; and it must, 

 therefore, have rested on the bottom for a few minutes, so as to 

 admit of the starfishes attaching themselves to it. On reaching 

 the surface, and for upwards of a quarter of an hour afterwards, 

 they continued to move about energetical^. 



" One very perfect specimen, which had fixed itself close to 

 the extreme end of the line, and was still convulsively grasping- 

 it with its long spinous arms, was secured in situ on the rope, 

 and consigned to immortality in a bottle of spirits. 



" Here then is a fresh starting point in the Natural History of 

 the sea. At a depth of two miles below the surface, where the 

 pressure must amount to at least a ton and a half on the square 

 inch — where it is difficult to believe that the most attenuated ray 

 of light can penetrate — we find a highly organized species of 

 radiate animal living, and evidently flourishing, — its red and 

 light-pink coloured tints as clear and brilliant as seen in its con- 

 geners inhabiting the shallow waters where the sun's rays pene- 

 trate freely- 



"Arguing from preconceived ideas, we should certainly not 

 expect to find in these deep sea starfishes the same internal 

 organization as is to be met with in shoal-water forms ; or that 

 the circulating fluid, no matter how simply composed, could 

 traverse the delicate membranes possessed by them. Unlike 

 some of the higher families of the Eadiata, the Ophiocomce do not 



