2 Natural History Bulletin. 



the life there was not confined to the more simpl}^ organized 

 animals, but '• extended very irrespectively through all the 

 invertebrate classes, and even included some true bony fishes." 

 Next a more suitable vessel was furnished by the Admiralty-, 

 and the "Porcupine" in 1869 and 1870 carried the investiga- 

 tion of the sea bottom down to a depth of 2.435 fathoms, at 

 which depth a fair representation of animal life was found. 



Having been so largely instrumental in opening up this 

 new field of scientific activity, Sir Wyville Thomson and his 

 colleagues were determined that •• Great Britain should be 

 • Mistress of the Seas ' in this as in other matters," and pro- 

 ceeded to organize the most remarkable and successful under- 

 taking for the acquisition of knowledge concerning marine 

 physics and biology that the world has ever seen. 



Through the influence of the Royal Society the Admiralty 

 was induced to send the '• Challenger " a spar-decked corvette 

 of 2.306 tons, on a four years' cruise for the purpose of exam- 

 ining the physical and biological conditions in the great oceanic 

 basins of the globe. Sir W^-ville Thomson was placed in 

 charge as director of the civilian scientific staff, consisting of 

 five eminent naturalists, besides the director himself. 



The '• Challenger " Expedition marked a new era in marine 

 investigation. Notable as were the discoveries made during 

 the four years' absence of the •• Challenger," the splendid 

 series of Reports, by which the results were laid before the 

 scientific world, will ever be the most imposing monument to 

 perpetuate the fame of the director and his associates, and 

 also an exhibit of the manner in which Her Majest3''s Govern- 

 ment completes work once undertaken. 



Alexander Agassiz is to America what Sir Wyville Thom- 

 son was to England, in the domain of " Thalassography.''^ In 

 1849, although but a boy, he accompanied his father, Profes- 

 sor Louis Agassiz, in the '"Bibb," and in 1851 we find him 

 aiding his father in the survey of the Florida Reefs. 



In 1867-8 Count Pourtales made memorable discoveries 



1 " The need of some single word to express the science which treats of oceanic 

 basins has led to the construction of this term." — Agassiz. 



