Хребты безумия
II
Singlestalksthreeinchesdiameterbranchaftersixinchesintofivesubstalks,eachofwhichbranchesaftereightinchesintosmall,taperingtentaclesortendrils,givingeachstalkatotaloftwenty-fivetentacles.
"Attopoftorsoblunt,bulbousneckoflightergray,withgill-likesuggestions,holdsyellowishfive-pointedstarfish-shapedapparentheadcoveredwiththree-inchwiryciliaofvariousprismaticcolors.
"Headthickandpuffy,abouttwofeetpointtopoint,withthree-inchflexibleyellowishtubesprojectingfromeachpoint. Slitinexactcenteroftopprobablybreathingaperture. Atendofeachtubeissphericalexpansionwhereyellowishmembranerollsbackonhandlingtorevealglassy,red-irisedglobe,evidentlyaneye.
"Fiveslightlylongerreddishtubesstartfrominneranglesofstarfish-shapedheadandendinsaclikeswellingsofsamecolorwhich,uponpressure,opentobell-shapedorificestwoinchesmaximumdiameterandlinedwithsharp,whitetoothlikeprojections-probablymouths. Allthesetubes,cilia,andpointsofstarfishhead,foundfoldedtightlydown;tubesandpointsclingingtobulbousneckandtorso. Flexibilitysurprisingdespitevasttoughness.
"Atbottomoftorso,roughbutdissimilarlyfunctioningcounterpartsofheadarrangementsexist. Bulbouslight-graypseudo-neck,withoutgillsuggestions,holdsgreenishfive-pointedstarfisharrangement.
"Tough,musculararmsfourfeetlongandtaperingfromseveninchesdiameteratbasetoabouttwoandfive-tenthsatpoint. Toeachpointisattachedsmallendofagreenishfive-veinedmembranoustriangleeightincheslongandsixwideatfartherend.
