INTKODUCnON. y 



the strange marine forms as they appeared under the microscope. 

 These drawings, though not calculated to satisfy the wants of nat- 

 uralists, were nevertheless considered by me in the light of an- 

 other great step gained like that of Captain Foster ; and with the 

 hope of still farther provoking laborers, whom the naturalists 

 might in time regard as experts, to enter this field, facsimiles of 

 the Toynbee insects, some of which are colored to nature, were 

 published in the eighth edition of Sailing Directions, 1859. 



When it is considered that the sea was commanded to bring 

 forth abundantly ; that its waters more teem with organisms 

 than the air does with insect life ; that it has been explored but 

 sparingly for its animalculse ; and that in the corps of observers 

 who co-operate with me there are those who are daily becoming 

 more and more interested in the oceanic economy, the importance 

 of tempting them into this field becomes obvious. 



It is not expected that the hands which haul up the deep-sea 

 line with the sounding-rod loaded with " bottom" should furnish 

 a description of the organisms thus recovered, neither is it to be 

 demanded that the sailor who tows the insect-net in the water 

 shall furnish us with drawings, secundura artem^ of the little pris- 

 oners he may capture in it. All that /venture to ask is, that 

 such treasures may be sought for in the sea by my fellow-labor- 

 ers ; that, when found, they may be properly labeled and carefully 

 preserved, so that they may reach the hands of experts at home 

 in a condition suitable for study under the microscope. 



Brooke's sounding-rod has opened a new field for study at the 

 bottom of the ocean ; so may the bucket of Foster and the net of 

 Toynbee enlarge that at the surface. 



The Toynbees have succeeded in preserving many specimens, 

 and getting them to England in excellent condition for the mi- 

 croscope. The following extract of a letter from Captain Toyn- 

 bee, dated May 21st, 1860, becon^es of special interest in this con- 

 nection : 



* -X- -:f * -x- * * 



" We have published a paper or two in the Nautical Magazine 

 on the ' Minute Inhabitants of the Surface Waters of the Deep 

 Sea.' Mr. Lubbock, a son of Sir John, has taken up the subject 

 of the Crustaceans, and seems to be the best authority in England 

 respecting these little creatures. The millions of minute shells 



