66
THE SEAS
_
Representatives of the Foraminifera, which live m
lim'y- shells often consisting of a series of chambers spirally
'
arranged, are amongst the smallest members of the» bottom
_
fauna.
On hard surfaces grow great masses of sponge, such
as
the yellow Clione and Desmascedon, which produces
endless amounts of sli‘me so that when it is put in a bucket
of - water the whole becomes thick and sticky.
Many
crustaceans
and
worms
burrow
into
these
sponges
or-_Shelter in the crevices.
On muddy bottoms the most
striking inhabitants are the sea peus, creatures allied to the
anemones and hydroids,but consisting of a main, central:
.
stem from the upper half of which spring branches bearing
‘.
tiny polyps, the whole being distinctly reminiscent of a
quill pen.
Thick
growths of hydroids and miniature
;
forests 'of- the beautiful pink coloured gorgonids or- sea
,
,
fans (Plate 26), the numerous branches of which extend all
in the one plane, like a fan, are both found on rock on
Here also live the beautiful Crinoids or feather'
stars (Plate 24), another group of the starsh family, which
hold on tothe bottom by means of a Series of outgrowths
from the under side Of the body, while their ten delicate,
foliaceous arms wave about in the water above.
They
-
begin life attached, like‘the'sea lilies of which we shall speak
later, 'but afterwards break off‘ and swim with graceful
movements of their arms.
The British representative is red,…
brownor yellow in colour and one of the most beautiful
'members of our marine fauna.
Many brittlestars and a
.
'Variety of-starsh, such as the fteen armed purple and
’
rosy sun—stars (Solaster) (Plate 15), the red
(Pomnia)' and the large yellow“ Luidia occur in different
localitieS, while burrowing urchins (Plate 20.) aria sea
.
cûcumbers- are found on soit, and sea gherkins on hard,
bottoms.
..
-
_
…
'.
Amongst the many worms are included burrowers in '
THE SEAS
_
Representatives of the Foraminifera, which live m
lim'y- shells often consisting of a series of chambers spirally
'
arranged, are amongst the smallest members of the» bottom
_
fauna.
On hard surfaces grow great masses of sponge, such
as
the yellow Clione and Desmascedon, which produces
endless amounts of sli‘me so that when it is put in a bucket
of - water the whole becomes thick and sticky.
Many
crustaceans
and
worms
burrow
into
these
sponges
or-_Shelter in the crevices.
On muddy bottoms the most
striking inhabitants are the sea peus, creatures allied to the
anemones and hydroids,but consisting of a main, central:
.
stem from the upper half of which spring branches bearing
‘.
tiny polyps, the whole being distinctly reminiscent of a
quill pen.
Thick
growths of hydroids and miniature
;
forests 'of- the beautiful pink coloured gorgonids or- sea
,
,
fans (Plate 26), the numerous branches of which extend all
in the one plane, like a fan, are both found on rock on
Here also live the beautiful Crinoids or feather'
stars (Plate 24), another group of the starsh family, which
hold on tothe bottom by means of a Series of outgrowths
from the under side Of the body, while their ten delicate,
foliaceous arms wave about in the water above.
They
-
begin life attached, like‘the'sea lilies of which we shall speak
later, 'but afterwards break off‘ and swim with graceful
movements of their arms.
The British representative is red,…
brownor yellow in colour and one of the most beautiful
'members of our marine fauna.
Many brittlestars and a
.
'Variety of-starsh, such as the fteen armed purple and
’
rosy sun—stars (Solaster) (Plate 15), the red
(Pomnia)' and the large yellow“ Luidia occur in different
localitieS, while burrowing urchins (Plate 20.) aria sea
.
cûcumbers- are found on soit, and sea gherkins on hard,
bottoms.
..
-
_
…
'.
Amongst the many worms are included burrowers in '