ZOOLOGICAL EESEAKCHES 57 



in the several articles a great deal that interests me very 

 much, especially in the subject of the geographical distri- 

 bution of v the various orders and genera so graphically and 

 scientifically treated. . . . 



I well remember the deep sea Pycnogon which we dredged 

 up in the Erebus, especially the Amnoihea communis, which 

 astonished the crew. It is much to be desired that zoologists 

 would follow the example of most botanists in giving the 

 geographical range of the species they deal with. 



From the moment of starting down Channel the naturalist's 

 eye is alert, whether it be that a wren is observed seven miles 

 out at sea, or sea- water examined for the microscopic cause of 

 its luminosity at night, or the activity of the young of a small 

 crab from the Antilles, harbouring in their thousands on a 

 piece of driftwood, swimming with the last five abdominal 

 segments that in adults are turned in upon the thorax. 



Even after Madeira and the Cape de Verdes had furnished 

 some botanical material to work upon, this did not fill up his 

 time, and botany took second place after general naturalist's 

 work. 



To Us Father 



March 17, 1840. 



Since leaving St. Helena, my time has been employed 

 exactly as before ; the net is constantly overboard, and 

 catching enough to keep me three-quarters of the day 

 employed drawing ; the dissections of the little marine ani- 

 mals generally take some time, as they are almost universally 

 microscopic. Though I never intend to make anything but 

 Botany a study, I do not think I can do better than I am 

 doing ; it gives me a facility in drawing which I feel comes 

 much much easier to me ; it pleases the Captain beyond any- 

 thing to see me at work, and, further, it is a new field which 

 none but an artist can prosecute at sea ; the extent of this 

 branch of Natural History is quite astonishing, the number 

 of species of little winged and footed shells provided with 

 wings, sails, bladders or swimmers appears marvellous. The 

 causes of the luminousness of the sea I refer entirely to 

 animals (living). I never yet saw the water flash without 



