242 Scientific Travellers : — Mr. Jerdon. 



present inhabitants are a fine, frank, hospitable race of Turks — as 

 good a people as ever I came across." 



Another letter, dated Macri, Februarj'^ 28, 1842 : — 



" I have now dredged right across the Archipelago, from Cerigo to 

 Lycia. For two months I accompanied our little schooner on these 

 coasts when she was deep- sounding, and dredged every day that a 

 dredge could go down, keeping a register of the produce. The water 

 is ver}' deep, and the results were highly interesting, since nobody, I 

 believe, has dredged so deep before, viz. from 100 to 220 fathoms. 

 This I was enabled to do successfully by means of Ball's little dredge ; 

 and, that the results might be strictly accurate, the depth was in each 

 case ascertained, not only by the length of the rope, which is very 

 fallacious, since currents affect it, but also by the patent sounding 

 machine, which gives the depth to a foot. Of course, if aU the re- 

 sults had been negative, such a series as I have collected, so strictly 

 tested, would be invaluable ; but they have not been negative, and 

 if I am not mistaken, will throw great light on geology. Strange 

 to sav, the most characteristic species of shells in those dejjths are 

 species known only in a fossil state hitherto. 



" You will be surprised when I tell vou, that, generally speaking, 

 the Mediterranean is not nearly so prolific in marine animals as our 

 coasts, and that they are mostly smaller than those of our seas. 

 Large species of the Articulata and Radiata are extremely scarce, and, 

 the large shell-fish are very few in number. The results indeed, 

 taken all in aU, of my marine geological work have greatly surprised 

 me, and turned out quite contrary to my expectations. As to float- 

 ing animals, they are very scarce ; and medusas are, literally, few and 

 far between. 



" As to land animals, I find it difiicult to give time to them, except 

 the lower classes ; but now I think I have succeeded in making one 

 of our sailors a skinner of beasts. I am always on the look-out, 

 especially here (Macri), which is much better than in the islands. 

 Reptiles are always preserved, and I catch all I can The larger 

 ones, such as the land and river tortoises, I defer taking till near my 

 return, as I shall then endeavour to bring a live supply for your 

 anatomical researches. Of fishes I have now above 100 drawings, 

 to show their colouring when fresh, and a good many specimens. I 

 draw everything, and have a great stock of pictures on hand. As 

 Malta is an excellent place for fish, I hope, before returning, to get 

 a number there for dissection. In fossil geology I have made con- 

 siderable collections, and lots of notes. 



" The manner in which, through unexpected circumstances, we 

 have been, as it were, shut out of the world, has prevented me from 

 writing the papers 1 intended for the Wernerian and Botanical So- 

 cieties. Indeed I find it absolutely necessary to defer writing till 

 my return, as I shall have to consult books and collections on many 

 points." 



|Mr. Jeruon. 

 By letters from Mr. Jerdon, dated 16th February, 1842, we learn 

 that that gentleman is still prosecuting his ornithological researches ; 



