1874.] Dr edgings and Deep-sea Soundings. 427 



Mr. Murray has been induced, by the observations which have been 

 made in the Atlantic, to combine the use of the towing-net, at various 

 depths from the surface to 150 fathoms, with the examination of the 

 samples from the soundings. And this double work has led him to a 

 conclusion (in which I am now forced entirely to concur, although it is 

 certainly contrary to my former opinion) that the bulk of the material of 

 the bottom in deep water is, in all cases, derived from the surface. 



Mr. Murray has demonstrated the presence of (flobigerinas, Pulvinu- 

 lince, and Orbulince throughout all the upper layers of the sea over the 

 whole of the area where the bottom consists of " Gloligerina-oozQ" or of 

 the red clay produced by the decomposition of the shells of Foraminifera ; 

 and their appearance when living on the surface is so totally different 

 from that of the shells at the bottom, that it is impossible to doubt that 

 the latter, even although they frequently contain organic matter, are all 

 dead. I mean this to refer only to the genera mentioned above, which 

 practically form the ooze. Many other Foraminifera undoubtedly live in 

 comparatively small numbers, along with animals of higher groups, on the 

 bottom. 



In the extreme south the conditions were so severe as greatly to inter- 

 fere with all work. We had no arrangement for heating the work-rooms ; 

 and at a temperature which averaged for some days 25 P., the instru- 

 ments became so cold that it was unpleasant to handle them, and the 

 vapour of the breath condensed and froze at once upon glass and brass 

 work. Dredging at the considerable depths which we found near the 

 Antarctic Circle became a severe and somewhat critical operation, the gear 

 being stiffened and otherwise affected by the cold, and we could not repeat 

 it often. 



The evening of the 23rd of February was remarkably fine and calm, 

 and it was arranged to dredge on the following morning. The weather 

 changed somewhat during the night, and the wind rose. Captain Nares 

 was, however, most anxious to carry out our object, and the dredge was 

 put over at 5 A.M. "We were surrounded by icebergs, the wind continued 

 to rise, and a thick snow-storm came on from the south-east. After a 

 time of some anxiety the dredge was got in all right ; but, to our great 

 disappointment, it was empty, probably the drift of the ship and the 

 motion had prevented its reaching the bottom. In the mean time the 

 wind had risen to a whole gale (force=10 in the squalls), the thermo- 

 meter fell to 21'5 F., the snow drove in a dry blinding cloud of ex- 

 quisite star-like crystals, which burned the skin as if they had been 

 red-hot, and we were not sorry to be able to retire from the dredging- 

 bridge. 



Careful observations on temperature are already in your hands, reported 

 by Captain Nares. The specific gravity of the water has been taken daily 

 by Mr. Buchanan ; and, during the trip, Mr. Buchanan has determined 

 the amount of carbonic acid in 24 different samples 15 from the surface, 



