280 MOLLUSCA AND MOLLUSCOIDA 



Smith (Fig. 73), from 600-800 fathoms, has a shell 4J 

 inches long, while another, Dentalium profundorwn, 

 E. A. Smith, from 675 fathoms, reaches a length of 

 nearly inches. 



Ten species of Cuttlefishes have been discovered 

 in the nether waters of the Indian sea-basins, and 

 have been described by Mr E. S. Goodrich in the 

 Linnean Society s Transactions for 1896. The deepest 

 dweller of them all is Taonitis abyssicola, Goodrich 

 (Fig. 74), from 902-1370 fathoms, and there can be 

 no doubt that this species really lives far below the 

 surface, for it has the dark purple-brown colour, the 

 frail flesh, and the large eyes — burst by removal from 

 the accustomed pressure of the depths — which are 

 found only in abyssal animals. On the other hand, 

 Chiroteuthis pellucida, Goodrich (Fig. 75), though 

 dredged in 922 fathoms water, and though favoured 

 with largish eyes, probably swims not far from the 

 surface, for the only specimen captured was alive when 

 brought on board, and did not appear to suffer more 

 acutely than any ordinary cuttlefish would have done 

 by removal from water. Some of the deep-sea cuttle- 

 fishes possess luminous organs which are often 

 arranged with great regularity ; among these are two 

 species of Abralia (Fig. 76), which have been taken 

 between 90 and 320 fathoms in these seas. 



The Bivalves dredged from the deep in Indian 

 latitudes include a considerable number of forms 



