512 General Notes. [May, 
worms would weigh 356 pounds, while Mr. Urquhart finds that 
the average weight of the number found by him came to 612 
pounds 9 ounces.. Scientific American, 
DEEP-SEA EXPLORATIONS OF LAST SUMMER BY THE U. S. FisH 
Commission.—Professor Verrill reports that the zoological. results 
this year were of great interest. Many additions to the fauna of great 
depths were made, anda large proportion of them are undescribed 
forms. Someofthe fishes were of great interest. Huge spiny spider- 
crabs (Lithodes agassizii) over three feet across were taken in 1000 
to 1230 fathoms, and another very large crab (Geryon) occurred 
in great abundance in 500 to 1000 fathoms, while in 2574 fathoms 
a large and strong crab-like creature (Munidopsis) was taken. 
any curious shrimp, some of them of large size and brightly 
colored, and often with perfect eyes, occurred in most of the 
deepest dredgings. Several very interesting new forms of star- 
fishes, ophiurans, and holothurians were dredged, some of them 
in large quantities, even in the deepest localities. Several inter- 
_ esting new forms of corals, gorgonians, sea-pens, and allied forms 
so occurred. Numerous specimens of huge sea-urchins with 
flexible shells (Phormosoma uranus) were obtained from several 
different stations, in 600 to 1100 fathoms. Some of these are about 
ten inches broad. One sea-urchin (Aspidodiadema), not before 
observed north of the West Indies, was taken in 991 fathoms. 
Most of the deep-sea star-fishes belong to the genus Archaster 
and other closely related genera. Some of these, like A. agassizii 
and A. grandis, were taken in large numbers, several hundreds in 
a single haul. And the same often happens with several of the 
ophiurans and sea-urchins. One interesting stalked crinoid 
(Rhizocrinus) was obtained in 2021 fathoms. 
any additions were made to the Mollusca. In July, Professor 
Verrill published a general list of all the deep-water Mollusca taken 
in the gulf stream region off this coast, up to theend of 1883. That 
list included 338 deep-water species and 42 that inhabit the sur- 
face waters. This year about 25 deep-sea species and about 8 
from the surface were added to the list, making the total number 
Over 400 species. Among the new forms discovered this year 
are four or five species of cephalopods, some of them very remark- 
able, and representing new genera. There were some very inter- 
esting new shells, some of them of good size and well developed, 
_ from below 2000 fathoms. Most of the larger and finer ones 
from the very deep waters belong to the Pleurotoma group, but 
some large species are allied to,Sipho (or Fusus) and to Dolium. 
_ Numerous specimens of three rare species of brachiopods were also 
dredged from below 1000 fathoms. These are Discina atlantica, 
` Waldheimia cranium and Atretia gnomon. The latter has not 
been known before from this side of the Atlantic. 
__ Anatomy oF a Catrisa.—Professor R. Ramsay Wright, with 
_ Professor J. P. McMurrich, A. B. McCallum and T. McKenzie, 
