F. GEOGRAPHY. 24a 



tained very large collections ; among them, numerous novel- 

 ties both of genera and species, of which a full account is 

 promised hereafter. 



Satisfactory as the results were here, other localities, be- 

 lieved to be still more rich, could not be exj^lored for want 

 of time, but will probably be investigated another season. 



In the communication to the Academy of Sciences, in which 

 these facts are presented, the author takes occasion to sug- 

 gest some new considerations in reference to the develop- 

 ments of polyps and their calcareous abode, differing consid- 

 erably from the views of previous writers on the same subject. 

 ^Q B, JVove)7iber 24,1201. -^ 



THE CRUISE OF THE CHALLENGER IN 1873. 



In the department of deep-sea operations, by far the most 

 prominent series is that undertaken by the party on board 

 the Challenger, a screw steamer of 400 horse-power, and 2300 

 tons, under command of Captain Nares, and fitted out by the 

 British Admiralty with every appliance that could be de- 

 vised for tlie accomplishment of the object in view. 



The scientific stafi" of the expedition consists of Professor 

 AVyville Thomson, as director, and J. J. Wilde, as private sec- 

 retary. Mr. J. J. Buchanan performs the duties of chemist ; 

 Dr. von Willemoes-Suhm and Mr. John Murray are the zool- 

 ogists; Mr. Moseley has charge of the botany, and there is 

 also an experienced photographer. 



The vessel left Portsmouth on the 21st of December, 1872, 

 in a severe storm, and the first week of the voyage was very 

 uncomfortable to all on board. She reached Lisbon on the 

 3d of January, where she was detained by stormy weather, 

 and thence proceeded to Gibraltar, and entered the Mediter- 

 ranean on the 26th of January, where observations of the 

 magnetic dip and deviation were prosecuted. 



Returning to Gibraltar, the Challe7iger proceeded to Ma- 

 deira by a somewhat circuitous route, for the purpose of 

 making some soundings for a cable, and found a depth of 

 2500 fathoms, with muddy bottom, about seventy miles from 

 Cape Vincent. On the 3d of February the expedition reach- 

 ed Madeira, and proceeded to Tenerifie; leaving on the 14th, 

 to execute a section of soundings across tlie Atlantic to Som- 

 brero, a small island of the West Indies. On the 26th of 



