78 Miscellaneous. 



On the Animal of Millepora alcicornis. 

 To the Editors of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 



Gentlemen, — In the communication on the animal of Millepora, 

 which appeared in the ' Annals ' of May last, I omitted to mention 

 that the tubular structure, of which a woodcut was given after a 

 drawing by Major-General Nelson, is the organic substance which 

 remains after decalcification. It is the tubular membrane which 

 lines the system of cavities. 



It appears also that it should have been more expressly stated 

 that the particular tubular appearance, due to the remains of old 

 coraUites whose tabular had disappeared, is deeply seated and more 

 or less radial. Yours truly, 



June 7, 1876. P. Maktin Duncan. 



Deep -Sea Researches. 

 To the Editors of The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 



Gentlemen, — I shall esteem it a favour if you will kindly accord 

 space in ' The Annals ' for the following small, but, I hope, not 

 altogether unimportant, contribution to the History of Deep- Sea 

 Research. The object in view is to prove (as stated by Sir Roderick 

 Murchison) that I had not only in 1860 " extended the limits of 

 animal life in the ocean to a depth of Ig mile, and worked out 

 accurate data as to the varied conditions of the sea-bottom at differ- 

 ent depths," but had also, so long ago as 1863, laid before the 

 Council of the Royal Geographical Society a scheme for a systematic 

 survey of the sea and sea-bed, which embodied all the most impor- 

 tant propositions contained in the Report drawn up by Dr. Carpenter 

 and his coadjutors for the information of the Council of the Royal 

 Society in 1869, and by the Royal Society submitted for adoption to 

 Government*. 



In order not to trespass too far on your space, and at the same 

 time place my statements beyond question, I annex: — first, an ex- 

 tract from Sir Roderick Murchison's Anniversary Address delivered 

 at the Royal Geographical Society, May 1, 1863; and secondly, a 

 copy of the " Scheme " referred to in his Address. 



These documents will speak for themselves. I would only add 

 that the Council of the Geographical Society did me the honour to 

 adopt my proposals, and at once caused them to be printed — the 

 diplomatic crisis then imminent between this country and the 

 United States having alone stood in the way of Sir Roderick's 

 application to the Admiralty being acceded to. 

 I remain, Gentlemen, 



Your much obKged sei"vaut, 

 Heme Bay, June 15, 1876. G. C. Wallich, M.D. 



* See Proc. Roy. Soc. vol. xviii. uo. 121, dated November 18, 1869, 

 pp. 398 and 402. 



