The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-09-19
A SUBMARINE HOTEL.
A Seaside Boarder who Lives on Sea
Cucumbers.

Several years ago in walking along
the half submerged fringing reef OF the
Tortugas group of islands, my atten-
ton was attracted by numbers OF great,
black, worm-like creatures that were
strewn over the bottom just within the
breakers, where the water was smooth.
They were Holothuridns. or sea-cucum-
bers. Wishing to secure q large speci-
men, 1 hauled my boat over among
them, and soon had one more than
foot in length in the glass jar. or port
able aquarium. carried for that pur-
pose. :.
Another was lifted from its sandy
bed for examination, and curious
creature it was. 1t seemed like great.
grotesaue caterpiller. made out OF
leather and stuffed with water. as the
handling caused it to eject two streams
of water with considerable force. AZ
ter placing it upon the seat OF the boat,
we found that the creature had elected
all its interior organs-actually thrown
them off. This would have been a
grievous calamity to almost any AMI
NAL except the sea-cucumber; but, Gu
riously enough, they have the faculty
of producing lost parts to wonderful
degree, and il placed back in the water
would soon provide themselves with an
entirely new set. W
five should follow up our investiga-
tions of the anatomy of the sea-cucum-
Der we should find that it breathes by
what is called water-vascular system.
In the star-fish hard red spot Is seen
upon the upper surface, punctured
with minute holes. Through this wa
ter is strained and taken in, passing
ont into the arms and filling the sac
| like feet. In the sea-cucumber there is
a similar arrangement. only the mad
reporic plate, as the pink sieve is call
cd, is on the inside.
Though certainly not gourmands,
starvation affects them in a remarkable
way. Thus, If kept long time with
out food, ring will be formed about
the tail that grows deeper and deeper,
until finally the piece drops OIL. In
short time another ring appears and
another piece Is sacrificed-a most re-
markable operation. you will say. but
quite ingenious when we understand
it.
The animal is merely rctrenching
and. as the food supply becomes small
er and smaller, portions of the bod.
are thrown of, so that there will no
be so much to feed. until, at last, thu
sea-cucumber will sacrifice its entire
BODY to save the mouth or head, ant
finally this dies, certainly after heroi
struggle.
But while we have been looking a
other sea-cucumbers, what has happen
ed to the one we placed in the glas
jarP Being a large animal, 1t soon OK
hausted the air in the water. and
now endeavoring to get out twistin'
its body deliberately about to show 1t
discomfort, for you must remembe
that the sea-cucumber and all othe
water animals require air just as niue
as ourselves.
For a few moments the sea-cucumbe
Writhed about IN its lazy fashion. when
all at once, out of one end / saw poeI
ing curious, delicate head.
A moment later 1t was still turtle
out-a Transparent, shining fish, an
soon, with convulsive wiggle, 1t free
itself from its strange prison and swal
about moment; then 1t settled to tn
bottom.
Its body was so delicate and trans
parent that print could almost be rea
through II, and specimen that l hav
before me now, though shrunk an
hardened in alcohol for several year.
is still almost like glass.
How did the fish get into the sea-c'
cumberp you will ask. This was,
first. a puzzle, and to ascertain whetht
It was accidental or not, we collected
largo number of the cucumbers. fHolC