The genus Bathycrinus must also be referred to the Apiocrinidæ, since the lower portion of the head consists of a gradually expanding funnel-shaped piece, which seems to be composed of coalesced upper stem-joints. The stem of Bathycrinus gracilis is long and delicate; in one example of a stem alone, which came up in the same haul with the one nearly perfect specimen which was procured, it was 90 mm. in length. The general distribution of the deep-sea Asteridea has already been referred to. Perhaps the most obvious peculiarity which they present is the great preponderance of the genera Astrogonium, Archaster, Astropecten, and their allies. Genera belonging to other groups do not apparently become less numerous, for species of Asteracanthion, Cribrella, Asteriscus, and Ophidiaster are as abundant as they are at lesser depths; but as we go down new species with tessellated mailing on the disk and massive marginal plates seem to be perpetually added. Of the twenty-six Echinoderms dredged from the _Porcupine_, seven--Porocidaris purpurata, Phormosoma placenta, Calveria hystrix, C. fenestrata, Neolampas rostellatus, Pourtalesia jeffreysi, and P. phiale--are forms which have been for the first time brought to light during deep-sea dredging operations, whether on this or on the other side of the Atlantic. There seems little doubt that these must be referred to the abyssal fauna, upon whose confines we are now only beginning to encroach. Three of the most remarkable generic forms--Calveria, Neolampas, and Pourtalesia--have been found by Alexander Agassiz among the results of the deep dredging operations of Count Pourtales in the Strait of Florida, showing a wide lateral distribution, while even a deeper interest attaches to the fact that while one family type, the Echinothuridæ, has been hitherto only known in a fossil state, the entire group finds nearer allies in the extinct faunæ of the chalk or of the earlier Tertiaries than in that of the present period. Many of the mollusca from the deep water have hitherto been found only in the northern portions of the area examined, and are generally allied to northern forms. The abyssal mollusca are by no means devoid of color, though, as a rule, they are paler than those from shallow water. Neither are the abyssal mollusca universally destitute of eyes. A new species of Pleurotoma from 2,090 fathoms had a pair of well-developed eyes on short foot-stalks; and a Fusus from 1,207 fathoms was similarly provided. The presence of organs of sight at these great depths leaves little room to doubt that light must reach even these abysses from some source. From many considerations it can scarcely be sunlight. The whole of the light beyond a certain depth might be due to phosphorescence, which is certainly very general, particularly among the larvæ and young of deep-sea animals. “THE MIMIC FIRES OF OCEAN” --G. CLARKE NUTTALL