PREFACE. Vll 



correcting and arranging for publication of my own notes on 

 plants collected, and for presenting them to the Linnean Society. 



I have to thank my friend Mr. W. T. Thistleton Dyer, for 

 much kind assistance and information conveyed to me through- 

 out the cruise. I have also to thank the various authors, 

 whose names will be found in the list of papers at the end 

 of this book, for having undertaken the description of my 

 collections of cryptogams and other plants. 



To my friend Prof. G. Eolleston I am indebted for various 

 kind offices performed during the course of my voyage, and 

 for having seen through the press several scientific papers sent 

 home by me for publication. 



I would here express my obligations to Sir C. Wyville 

 Thomson for having selected me as a member of the Scientific 

 Staff of H.M.S. " Challenger." The fact that the " Challenger " 

 Expedition started at all, is principally due to the energy and 

 perseverance of Sir C. Wyville Thomson and Dr. Carpenter. 

 I sincerely hope that before very long another scientific ex- 

 ploring expedition may be despatched from England under 

 Government auspices. 



I would also return my best thanks to Captain Sir G. S. 1ST ares 

 and Captain F. T. Thomson for their invariable kindness and 

 courtesy to me personally, and for the many occasions on which 

 they gave me special assistance in my work during the voyage. 



I am further bound to express my gratitude to all my mess- 

 mates and many friends on board the ship, who constantly 

 helped me in various ways. The interests of a Commander 

 and a Eirst Lieutenant on board a man-of-war are as directly 

 opposed to all scientific operations, especially those of Botany 

 and Zoology, which are necessarily more or less connected 

 with dirt and untidiness, as they can possibly be. I have to 

 thank Captain J. E. L. P. Maclear and Lieuts. P. Aldrich and 

 A. C. B. Bromley, for having so often good-naturedly put up with 



