Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/271

220 these, little pools, four or five feet across, and eighteen inches deep, are formed, the matted roots of the Zostera having been washed away. The bottom of the pools is of clear sand, with innumerable broken tubes of a species of Sabella [Terebella?] and a few Pagurus bernhardus, all small specimens; also Venus striatula and Mactra stultorum. On the surface of these little lakes and round the edges, float the leaves of the Zostera which grow nearest the margin; and attached to these leaves on their under sides, with the mouth and tentacles downwards, rests the Lucernaria on the watch for prey; at times in a state of rest, at others in constant motion. The heads of the tentacles possess great power of adhesion, and I expect you will find the filaments or threads highly developed."

The accompanying plate represents two specimens of Lucernaria auricula attached to a pendent thread of sea-weed. In the foreground is that fine bivalve (Pectunculus pilosus), which is taken in deep water in this Bay; its summit is covered with the common Acorn-shell (Balanus balanoides); on which rests the Scarlet-lined Æsop-prawn (Pandalus annulicornis). Behind this spring two fronds of the Ladies' tresses (Laminaria phyllitis.) From the rock above the Lucernariæ is growing a bushy tuft of a coarse but curious Alga (Ceramium echionotum); and below is seen a plant of exquisite structure, one of the most simple, but one of the most lovely of sea-weeds, the Bryopsis plumosa.