412 
THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGEE. 
The food of the Annelid consists of the reddish mud amongst which it dwells. 
Sir Wyville terms this red clay — mud containing a number of gritty particles, though 
on the whole comparathmly smooth, and with scarcely a trace of carbonate of lime. A 
minute examination of the contents of the alimentary canal shows that the sand-grains 
are rare and small, and that a few Diatoms (chiefly circular) and occasionally a beauti- 
fully reticulated Radiolarian are j)resent. 
Further insight, however, is obtained into the nature of the sea-bottom by an investi- 
gation of the tubes, which are composed of a somewhat tough, pale, chitinous secretion 
internally, and externally coated with sand-grains and other structures. Conspicuous 
amongst the latter are numerous globular or rarely moniliform arenaceous Foraminifera 
of an ochreous colour, while the microscope shows a large number of more minute 
arenaceous forms, some apj)arently divided into chambers, innumerable fragments of 
spouge-spicules, curious circular stellate disks, and tips of peculiar spines (hollow at the 
base). Few or no Diatoms are visible on the tubes. 
There can be no doubt, therefore, that living arenaceous Foraminifera abound on this 
sea-bottom of reddish clay, and with the Diatoms and Radiolarians contribute to the 
support of such higher forms as Myriochele. 
Myriochele heeri, Malmgren, var. (PI. XXVIa. flg. bd). 
Habitat . — A fragmentary and minute specimen was dredged at Station 47 (off the 
American coast, near New York), May 7, 1873 ; lat. 41° 14' N., long. 65° 45' W.; depth, 
1340 fathoms; surface temperature, 42°; sea-bottom, blue mud. 
The hooks of this form (PI. XXVIa. flg. od) are of course much smaller than in 
the previous species, and appear to conform more closely to Malmgren’s figure. There 
is, however, no satisfactory evidence that the forms are distinct. The chief difference 
is in the curvature of the neck of the hook, which is more decided in the present form, 
and there is less of the shoulder usually visible below the teeth. 
The tube, like tlie animal, is fragmentary, measuring in diameter about 0’5 mm. 
It is composed of sponge-spicules and transparent grains of sand, the former beauti- 
fully arranged in parallel series, bound here and there by cross-bars. In some parts 
of the tube sand-particles predominate, in others the sponge -spicules are most 
prominent. 
Some of the hooks in the ordinary Oivenia, towards the end of the row, show two 
short and rounded ]3rocesses at the tip. The rest seem to have a single tooth. In 
Hebridean, English, and Spanish examples the double tip occurs on the hooks. 
Myriochele, therefore, can hardh^ l)e distinguished from Owenia for this reason. 
