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somewhat significant. The fascicle would appear to have been withdrawn 
from its sponge body and lain some time in the sea before it was found. This 
is inferred from the fact that the Polythoa crust reaches to within an inch 
and a half of the end, which in the natural condition is inserted in the 
sponge mass. Two shark’s eggs are also attached to the fascicle by their 
tendrilled extremities, and one of the tendrils clasping the fascicle is included 
in the polyp crust. 
Dredging in the Gulf Stream. — The Bulletin of the Museum of Compara- 
tive Zoology , No. 13, contains Professor Louis Agassiz’s important Report, 
which besides giving his own results sums up those of other similar expedi- 
tions. According to Professor Agassiz, the fauna of the reef, consisting 
mainly of corals, extends to ten fathoms only. The second zone, u a muddy 
mass of dead and broken shells, broken corals, and coarse coral sand, is chiefly 
inhabited by worms, and such shells as by their nature seek soil of this 
character, with a few small species of living corals, some Haley onarians, and 
a good many Algce.” This extends seaward “ from a few miles” off Cape 
Florida to “ twenty miles and more off Cape Sable.” u A third region, or 
zone, beginning at a depth of about fifty or sixty fathoms, and extending to 
a depth of from two hundred to two hundred and fifty fathoms, constitutes 
a broad slanting table-land, beyond which the sea-bottom sinks abruptly 
into deeper waters. The floor of this zone is rocky ; it is, in fact, a lime- 
stone conglomerate, a kind of lumachelle, composed entirely of the remains 
of organised beings, animals now living upon its surface.” Algae are but 
sparsely represented upon the plateau, and, though the animals are abundant, 
the species are generally of small size and belong to genera either identical 
or closely allied to those of the Cretaceous period. The deep sea proper 
beyond this zone lies upon “ a uniform accumulation of thick adhesive mud, 
with a variety of worms and such shells as seek muddy bottoms.” Professor 
Agassiz thinks that if the bottom in these depths was rocky, animal life 
would be “ as varied and as numerous comparatively as are the alpine 
plants on the very limits of perpetual snow.” 
Mr. Barrett's New Stentor. — In the Monthly Microscopical Journal for 
April Mr. Barrett describes and figures this supposed new species. The 
animal lives attached by the lower portion of its body within a tubular case, 
which is firm, of a light brown colour when young, slightly transparent, 
becoming opaque and of a darker colour with age. The animal is trumpet- 
shaped when extended, ovoid when contracted. The body is covered with 
long hairs, standing erect from it, and continued round the expanded head, 
on a plane, external to the cilia, which are placed on the free edge of the 
velum, which runs round within the edge of the ear-shaped disc. Where 
the perpendicular portion is joined by the lower portion on the left side two 
ciliated processes are sent to the centre of the head, and between these the 
mouth, which is funnel-shaped, is placed, and Mr. Barrett thinks also the 
anal opening. The mouth is lined with vibrating cilia, and leads down to 
the stomach sacs through a short oesophagus. Close to the cloaca and near 
the mouth is placed what he takes to be the nervous ganglion. It is oval- 
shaped, sends down two branches the whole length of the body, one branch 
to the mouth and one round the ciliated head. The body is composed of a 
semi-transparent bluish-white ’granular sarcode, enclosing many vacuoles ; 
