Polyps and echinoderms abounded on the seafloor: various isis coral, cornularian coral living in isolation, tufts of virginal genus Oculina formerly known by the name "white coral," prickly fungus coral in the shape of mushrooms, sea anemone holding on by their muscular disks, providing a literal flowerbed adorned by jellyfish from the genus Porpita wearing collars of azure tentacles, and starfish that spangled the sand, including veinlike feather stars from the genus Asterophyton that were like fine lace embroidered by the hands of water nymphs, their festoons swaying to the faint undulations caused by our walking.
Mintha virágszőnyegen járnánk: a homok különféle íziszekkel, izomkorongjukkal tapadó tengeri rózsákkal, tengeri csillagokkal volt teleszórva. Mintha a najádok[12] keze szőtte volna a virágállatok finom csipkéjét, amely meglebbent a lépteink nyomán kerekedett könnyű hullámban.