

238 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [CHAP. vi. 



mari immissus pondere ferrei apparatus fundum 

 plerumque petit, interdum diuersoruni et contra- 

 rioruin saepe fluminum maris inferiorum aduersa 

 actione " moleque 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 

 Mailer's book. 



"Fundo iniacens ope remorum aut venti modi< 

 trahitur, donee tractum quendam quaeuis obuia exci 

 piendo confecerit. In cymbam denique retrahitur sj 

 et labore, at opera et oleum saepe perditur, nubesque 

 pro lunone captatur, vel enim totus argil la fumante 

 aut limo foetente, aut meris silicibus, aut testaceorum 

 et coralliorum emortuorum quisquiliis irnpletur, vel 

 saxis praeruptis et latebrosis cautibus implicitus 

 horarum inter uallo vel in perpetuum omnia experi- 

 entis retrahendi inuenta frustrat ; interdum quidem 

 vnum et alterum molluscum, helminthicum, aut tes- 

 taceum minus noturn in dulce laborum lenimen 

 reportat." Miiller graphically describes the difficul 

 ties which he encounter ed-iii carrying on his work. 

 The paucity of animal life on the Scandinavian coasts; 

 the wild and variable climate, " aeris intemperies, 

 marisque in sinubus et oris maritimis Norvegiae 

 inconstantia adeo praepropera et praepostera, vt aer 

 calidissimus vix minutoruni interuallo in frigidum, 

 tempestas serena in horridam, malacia infida in aestu 

 ferventein pelagum baud raro mutetur." Still nothing 

 can quell the energy of the enthusiastic old naturalist, 

 who looks upon all his hardships as part of the day's 

 work: "Hanc mutationem saepius cum vitae periculo 

 et sanitatis dispendio expertus sum, nee tamen, 



