CHAP. V.] THE GULF-STREAM. 355 
our course toward Halifax, and proceeded under steam. On 
the 6th of May we sounded in 1350 fathoms, with a bottom 
temperature of 2°°3 C., the temperature of the surface having 
now sunk to 4°-4 C. The dredge brought up a small quantity 
of gray mud, and the tangles were covered with animals of 
various kinds, particularly star-fishes, including a large number 
of a fine species of the genus Zoroaster ; many examples of an 
Astropecten nearly allied to A. tenwispinus, of which it is prob- 
ably only a variety, but much more robust and lighter in color 
than the European specimens; many gay specimens of P7i- 
singa endecacnemos, as usual greatly broken, but some retained 
five or six arms in connection with the disk. During the 
greater part of the day there was a very brilliant halo round 
the sun, showing prismatic colors. The day was quite calm 
and slightly hazy. 
May Tth.—We sounded and dredged in 1340 fathoms, a 
slight current running to the eastward. The bottom was gray 
mud, with many foraminifera. The dredge came up about 
midday with a tremendous strain, and we found that a huge 
block of syenite weighing 5 cwt. had got jammed between the 
mouth of the dredge and the arms. We had some difticulty 
in getting our unwelcome prize safely landed on the bridge. 
There it remained until we left Halifax, where it excited as 
much interest as any of our other captures. Dr. Honeyman, 
the energetic curator of the Halifax Museum, wished to keep 
it as a souvenir of the expedition, a wish to which we readily 
acceded ; but, somehow or other, in the hurry of leaving, the 
bowlder was forgotten and remained on the bridge, until, on 
our return voyage, passing not far from the place, we thought 
it as well to put it back where we found it. 
May 8th.— At 5 am. we stopped on Le Have Bank, and 
sounded in 51 fathoms with a hard bottom. The dredge was 
put over; and although the dredge-bag was empty, the outside 
of the dredge and the tangles were crowded with animals, prin- 
