The Arctic Expedition. 165 



these researches, as we believe that the deepest dredgings ever 

 previously obtained were those of Prof. E. Forbes in the Levant, 

 the deepest of which was 230 fathoms, itself far beyond any made 

 by other naturalists. Such valuable and laborious researches can 

 only be made when the officers of a ship have such kindly dispo- 

 sitions towards the observer of nature as was the case during 

 Prof. Forbes's voyage, and is now shown by those under the 

 command of Sir J. Franklin. 



On the 1st of July two specimens of a small species of Beroe 

 were obtained, which greatly illustrated the process of their deve- 

 lopment. " A thick germinal membrane of a red colour was ob- 

 served lining the central cavity of the body, in which both male 

 and female cells appeared to be developed. The ova having ar-» 

 rived at some size project so far as to become pedunculated, and 

 so hang from the membrane into the cavity. The male cells are 

 also developed in the same membrane." 



Mr. Goodsir is making minute observations upon the ice of the 

 bergs, and as he purposes continuing them throughout the voy- 

 age, there can be little doubt of his arriving at valuable conclu- 

 sions. He observes that it is quite without salt ; this was to be 

 expected, when we consider that they are not formed of marine 

 ice, but are parts of glaciers which have become detached and 

 fallen into the sea. " The surface of a mass when melting pre- 

 sents numerous flat concavities, all of them of about the same size 

 and form, and without any interruption, excepting the ridges 

 forming the walls of separation." A loud cracking noise is heard 

 and small particles are occasionally thrown off. The minute 

 structure of the ice consists of three series of cells — two traver- 

 sing the mass in one direction, and one at right angles to them. 

 Of the former, one series consists of moderately large and quite 

 globular cells of nearly uniform size, each having within it ^^ a 

 small globule of a peculiar fluid ;" the oblong, sausage-shaped 

 cells of the other series also contain small globules, but usually 

 several instead of one. The mode of formation of these cells and 

 the nature of the inclosed fluid are subjects to which his atten- 

 tion will be especially turned. The third series consists of very 

 minute cells, arranged in well-defined wavy bands, which run 

 across the lines formed by the other series. These bands are of 

 an opake white colour. 



We also find some observations upon the action of floating ice 

 upon the granitic shores of the islands. All the rocks below high 

 water mark and some considerably above it are rounded off into 

 long irregular ridges with intervening hollows by the half-float- 

 ing masses of ice. 



As the ships were to stay at the Whale-fish Islands for a few 



