330 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



inches, and the amount of oxygen absorbed by the atmosphere in contact with it 

 and the health of the animals immersed in it (always supposing they have enough 

 space in which to move) is according to the arithmetical expression of the case. 

 Even deep-sea creatures obtained from the greatest depths to which dredges and 

 sounding lines have ever penetrated try to get to the surface of the aquarium 

 the} r are placed in, to seek the air which the enormous pressure gave them in the 

 waters they inhabited in nature, and appear to suffer no inconvenience by the 

 removal of that pressure, their tissues being vascular and permeated by the water 

 on all sides. I trouble you with these particulars as being useful hints in the 

 sending of any aquatic animals, as sailors and others are so apt to keep them in 

 deep water, i. e., deep water relatively to the surface exposed afforded by the 

 vessel they are brought in. I have often thought that a large tub containing 

 masses of rough cleaned sponge, (such as is used for stable purposes,) would 

 answer well in bringing over some crnstacea, and perhaps sea anemones. Some 

 small holes should be bored in the side of the tub about three inches from the 

 bottom, and then, if a quantity of sea-water were daily or oftener poured over 

 the sponge and animals, it would find its way out at the holes and leave the 

 sponge saturated with moisture. Each mass of sponge would be a kind of lung 

 perforated with openings in all directions, and the fluid contained in the sponge 

 would thus have a very large surface exposure to the surrounding air, and the 

 crabs would climb upon and absorb it, while the three inches of water below 

 would effectually prevent desiccation. Twenty or thirty small crabs so brought 

 to Europe in a tub of about four feet diameter, covered over the top with a net, 

 would be very nearly in the condition, chemically speaking of, as many birds or 

 other lung-breathing creatures. The sponge too would, I think, prevent injury 

 to the animals by the motion of the ship. We know far too little of the habits 

 of invertebrate aquatic forms of life from parts of the world distant from us, as 

 we have not given sufficient consideration to the proper means of transporting 

 them. What is wanted is not only water but air in the water, and if on board 

 ship the appliances are somewhat rude, so that the fluid cannot be kept as pure 

 as it might be kept on land, then shallowness and the presentation of great sur- 

 faces of fluid to the purifying influences of the atmosphere are the best means of 

 getting over the difficulty. We shall be very thankful for the promised meno- 

 poma. 



From W. Alfred Lloyd. 



Hamburg, July 13, 1867. 

 By the steamer Borussia, leaving here this evening, the " Zoologische Gessell- 

 chai't," of Hamburg, sends for the acceptance of the Smithsonian Institution at 

 Washington a collection of upwards of 300 living sparrows, in accordance with 

 a wish expressed by you, as you desire these birds to multiply in your country 

 that they may consume the insects that devour corn, vegetables, and fruit grow- 

 ing in the ground. Will you please report on their arrival and say how many, 

 if any, reached you alive ; then this society will pay the man in charge a propor- 

 tionate premium for himself. The freight is free between our two Institutions 

 by all the vessels of the Hamburg New York company. Please return the cages, 

 and, if you wish, we will send more in them, and continue to forward you sup- 

 plies till we succeed, if success be possible. Sparrows from England have been 

 sent, after some trials, to Australia, and they are there thriving, I believe.' If 

 any ill-luck should happen to the present consignment, please try to find out the 

 cause of it, in order that in renewing our attempt we may learn from experience 

 of the past. I have heard something of the value of transporting such birds 

 to long distances confined in small cages, with two or three in each, but no 

 reason was given for it, and therefore I cannot see why such a system should be 



