238 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [chap, s r. 



mari inmiissus pondere ferrei apparatus funduni 

 plernmque petit, interdum diuersorum et contra- 

 riorum saepe fluuiinuni maris inferiorum aduersa 

 actione nioleque ipsius funis plurium orgyarum in 

 via retineri, nee fundum attingere creditur." 



The figure of this first ' naturalist's dredge ' is taken 

 from an ornamental scroll on the title-page of 

 Midler's book. 



" Fundo iniacens ope remorum aut venti modici 

 trahitur, donee tractum quendam quaeuis obuia exci- 

 piendo confecerit. In cymbam denique retrahitur spe 

 et labore, at opera et oleum saepe perditur, nubesque 

 pro Iunone captatur, vel enim totns argilla fumante 

 aut limo foetente, ant meris silicibus, ant testaceorum 

 et coralliorum emortuorum quisquiliis impletur, vel 

 saxis praeruptis et latebrosis cautibus implicitns 

 horarum interuallo vel in pcrpetuum omnia experi- 

 entis retrahendi inuenta frustrat ; interdum quidem 

 vnum et alterum molluscum, helminthic-urn, aut tes- 

 taceum minus notnm in dulce laborum lenimen 

 reportat." Midler graphically describes the difficul- 

 ties which he encountered in carrying on his work. 

 The paucity of animal life on the Scandinavian coasts ; 

 the wild and variable climate, " aeris intemperies, 

 marisquc in sinubus et oris maritimis Norvegiae 

 inconstantia adeo praepropera et praepostera, vt aer 

 calidissimus vix minutorum interuallo in frigidum, 

 tempestas serena in horridam, malaria infida in aestu 

 ferventem pelagum hand raro mutetur." Still nothing 

 can quell the energy of the enthusiastic old naturalist, 

 who looks uj^on all his hardships as part of the day's 

 work: "Hanc mutationem saepius cum vitae periculu 

 et sanitatis dispendio expertus sum. nee tamen. 



