390 REPORT — 1844. 



Plate LVI. (continued.) 



Waves of the Third Order. — Capillary Waves. 



Fig. 2 represents a slender rod inserted in standing water, raising around it 

 by capillary attraction a circular portion of the surface of the fluid. A slow- 

 motion gives it the form represented in fig. 3, and more rapid motions, but 

 all of less than a foot per second, give it the forms in figs. 4, 5 and 6 ; 

 at the velocity of one foot per second the phsenomena become those re- 

 presented in Plate liVII. 



Plate LVII. 



Waves of the Third Order. — Capillary Waves. 



This Plate gives a plan and section on one-half of the natural size of the 

 group of capillary waves generated by a disturbing rod one-sixteenth of an 

 inch in diameter, moving along the surface with a uniform velocity. The 

 section is taken in the direction of the motion of disturbance from A to X, 

 and the same letters refer to the ridges of the same waves in both plan 

 and section. The velocity is one foot per second. 



PROVISIONAL REPORTS AND NOTICES OF PROGRESS IN 

 SPECIAL RESEARCHES ENTRUSTED TO COMMITTEES 

 AND INDIVIDUALS. 



On the Marine Zoology of Corfu and the Ionian Islands. 

 By Capt. PoRTLOCK, R.E., F.R.S. 



The author presented a Report of the progress which he had made in the 

 above research by dredging the sea-bed and registering the results of this 

 operation. The spaces at present investigated are of small extent, but the 

 author is preparing to enter on wider areas, in the expectation of presenting 

 hereafter an arranged summary of his observations. [A Committee has been 

 appointed to cooperate with Capt. Portlock.] 



On Captive Balloons. 



Dr. Robinson stated that he must still report progress, for in a course of 

 experiments so new to him and his coadjutors, they had found it necessary 

 occasionally to vary arrangements which at first seemed satisfactory. In par- 

 ticular, the plan of having the telegraphic wires separate from the moorings 

 of the balloon has been changed, and a single cord, ivormed as sailors call it 

 with copper wire, is substituted. This, besides being more manageable, will 

 permit a greater elevation to be attained. In one of the trials the balloon 

 received a trifling injury, which however was easily repaired. Dr. Robinson 

 thinks that no serious difficulties are noM' likely to occur. 



Report of the Dredging Committee for 1844. 



This Report consisted of two parts ; first, of the records of a series of dred- 

 ging operations conducted round the coasts of Anglesea in September 1844, 

 by Mr. M' Andrew and Prof. E. Forbes, exhibiting the distribution of the 

 marine animals procured in various depths down to thirty fathoms, and the 

 state of the sea-bed in the localities explored. Among the more interesting 



