NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 
541 
Featlier-stars belonging to the genus Actinometra, coloured dark purple, were numerous 
in the dredgings in from 8 to 12 fathoms. Dr. von Willemoes Suhm mentions that, in 
eighty specimens which he examined, he found the following animals living on them 
parasitically, and all coloured like them : — (1) an Ophiurid, (2) an Alplieus, (3) a 
Myzostomum (large species, two or three on about every tenth specimen), (4) an 
Aphroditacean Annelid, (5) an Isopod ( Anilocra , found in the stomach of the Actinometrce). 
The dark purple colouring matter of these Actinometrce ( Actinometra strata), unlike the 
colouring matters of most Comatulidse, gives a very characteristic banded absorption 
spectrum, and has been named by Mr. Moseley “ Antedonin.” The same colouring matter 
was found in a Holothurian dredged in the South Indian Ocean from 1975 fathoms. 1 
Cape York is a sort of emporium of savage weapons and ornaments. Pearl-shell 
gathering vessels (“ pearl-shellers ” as they are called) come to Somerset with crews which 
they have picked up at all the islands in the neighbourhood, from New Guinea, and from 
all over the Pacific, and they bring weapons and ornaments from all these places with 
them. Moreover, the Murray Islanders visit the port in their canoes, and bring bows and 
arrows, drums, and such things for barter. The water police stationed at Somerset deal 
in these curiosities, buying them up and selling them to passengers in the passing 
steamers, or to other visitors. Hence all kinds of savage weapons have found their way 
into English collections, with the label “ Cape York,” and the northern Australians have 
got credit for having learnt the use of the bow and arrow. Apparently, however, no 
Australian natives use the bow at all. Weapons from very remote places find their way 
to Cape York, and thus no doubt the first specimens of Admiralty Island javelins reached 
the English museums. Accurate determination of locality is of course essential to the 
interest of savage weapons. Surgeon Maclean of the Challenger had a large New Guinea 
drum of the crocodile form thrust upon his acceptance as a Tee for visiting a patient on 
board one of the “ pearl-shellers.” 
Dr. von Willemoes Suhm broke into five of the large Termite hills with pickaxes, 
and secured some females, but never more than one in each hill. He states that this 
Termes is different from the Indian forms, in which the female always resides in 
a larger hole at the bottom of the hill, and is two inches in length. 
Cape York to the Arrou (Aru) Islands. 
At 1 1 a.m. on the 8th September the ship left Somerset, Cape York, and proceeded 
to the westward through the Albany Pass, crossing over the tail of the bank from Sextant 
Rock, with the left extremity of Ida Island in line with the rocky point in Muddy Bay ; 
5 fathoms being the least depth obtained at high water. A course was then steered 
1 H. N. Moseley, On the Colouring Matters of Various Animals, and especially of Deep-Sea Forms, Quart. Journ. 
Micr. Sci., N. S., vol. xvii. pp. 8-10, 1877. 
