76 



BOREAL PROVINCE. 



tish seas ; countless shoals of the curious little Lizzia 

 octopunctata, with its jet black eyes ; swarms of 

 Thaumantias pilosella, like so many coronets cir- 

 cled with rubies ; Circe rosea, the most elegant of sub- 

 marine mitres ; and Steenstrupia rubra, jerking itself 

 in all directions, trawling its single tentacle after it, 

 as if it were attacked by some ferocious vermilion 

 worm, mingled with the graceful Briaria, the swift 

 Sagitta, and iridescent crowds of Mnemice, Eeroe, 

 and Cydippe, give a distinctive character to these 

 our northernmost British waters. When the dredge 

 is plunged into the depths, whether near or far from 

 shore, it comes up filled with Norwegian animals. 

 Echinus neglectus in the shallower localities, Echi- 

 nus Norwgicus in the deeper, especially distinguish 

 the region, and deeper still there is the rare and 

 beautiful Cidaris, whose long and slender spines 

 have suggested the local name of " piper." With it 

 is associated the true Medusa's hand, that strange 

 star-fish with arborescent arms, known scientifically 

 as the Astrophyton or Euryale. The rude yet not 

 unintelligent fishermen are attracted by the curious 

 creatures which cling to their lines when they are 

 engaged in the perilous occupation of fishing for the 

 ling, itself a characteristic feature of these seas, on 

 deep-sea banks, some twenty or thirty miles from 

 shore, far out in the clear ocean, whence occasionally 

 resisting their superstitious prejudices they bring to 

 the shore specimens worthy of national museums. 

 One of their favourites is the " sea-apple " (Tethya 



