A LARGE BRACHIOPOD 283 



belonging to the genus Terebratulay have been dredged 

 by the Investigator in the regions bordering on the 

 abyss. One of them is a beautifully-sculptured species 

 of small size, whose stalk ends in a bunch of fine 

 threads, each of which is anchored to a shell of Globi- 

 gerina or some other tiny foraminifer : this species 

 was found in the Laccadive Sea, between 865 and 

 880 fathoms. The other, which is of remarkably 

 large size, its shell being close on 3 inches long and 

 nearly 2% inches in greatest breadth, was dredged off 

 the North Maldive Atoll in 719 fathoms on a bottom 

 of fine coral sand. This species (Fig. 83) is further 

 remarkable in having a shell that is not quite bilater- 

 ally symmetrical. I have named it after the great 

 Elizabethan navigator, John Davis, who appears to 

 have been one of the first Englishmen to make 

 mention of the Maldive Islands, and to hold converse 

 with their inhabitants, whose ambassador greatly 

 impressed John Davis with his ''princely spirit, his 

 behaviour so sweet and affable, his countenance so 

 modest, and his speech so graceful." 



