192 THE DEPTHS OF THE SE.f. [chap. iv. 



— again a mass of water lying at the bottom, 715 

 fathoms — not far from a mile — in depth, at the 

 uniform temperature of 12°'6C. (54°'7F.) 



The dredge was sent down at each successive 

 station, but with very poor result ; and Dr. Car- 

 penter was driven to the conclusion that the bottom 

 of the Mediterranean at depths beyond a few hundred 

 fathoms is nearly azoic. The conditions are not 

 actually inconsistent with the existence of animal 

 life, for at most of the stations some few living forms 

 were met with, but they are certainly singularly un- 

 favourable. Thus at Station 49, at a depth of 1412 

 fathoms, and a temperature of 12°* 7 C, the following 

 species of mollusca were obtained : Nucula quadrata, 

 n. sp. ; N. pumila, Absjornsen ; Leda, n. sp. ; Vertl- 

 cordia granulata, Seg. ; IleLt tenella, Jeffreys; 

 Trochm gemmulatus, Ph.; Rissoa subsoluta, Aradas ; 

 Natica affinis, Gmelin ; Trophon multilamellosus, 

 Ph. ; Nassa prismatica, Br. ; Columbella hali&ti, 

 Jeff.; Buccmium acuticostatum, Ph.; Pleurotoma 

 carinatum, Cristofori and Jan; P. torquatttm, Ph.; 

 P. decussatum, Ph. 



Near the African coast the fauna was more abun- 

 dant, but the bottom was so rough that it was unsafe 

 to use the dredge, and the tangles were usually sent 

 down alone. Many polyzoa. echinoderms, corals, and 

 sponges Avere taken in this way, but they were mostly 

 well-known Mediterranean species. After remaining 

 for a few days at Tunis and visiting the ruins of 

 Carthage, dredging was resumed on the 6th of 

 September on the ' Adventure' Bank , so called from 

 its having been discovered by Admiral Smyth when 

 surveying in II.M.S. 'Adventure.' Here, at depths 



