CHAP. iv.J THE CRUISES OF THE 'PORCUPINE: 199 



and there I should be myself prepared to join her, in place of 

 Mr. Jeffreys, with one of my sons as an assistant. We should 

 propose first to complete the survey of the Straits of Gibraltar, 

 if that should not have been fully accomplished previously ; and 

 then to proceed eastwards along the Mediterranean, making 

 stretches between the coasts of Europe and Africa, so as to carry 

 out as complete a survey, Physical and Zoological, of that part 

 of the Mediterranean basin as time may permit. Malta would 

 probably be our extreme point ; and this we should reckon to 

 reach about the middle of September. 



" ' It is well known that there are questions of great Geolo- 

 gical interest connected with the present distribution of Animal 

 life in this area ; and we have great reason to believe that we 

 shall here find at considerable depths a large number of Tertiary 

 species which have been supposed to be extinct. And in regard 

 to the Physics of the Mediterranean, it appears, from all that 

 we have been able to learn, that very little is certainly known. 

 The Temperature and Density of the water, at different depths, 

 in a basin so remarkably cut off from the great ocean, and 

 having a continual influx from it, form a most interesting sub- 

 ject of inquiry, to which we shall be glad to give our best 

 attention, if the means are placed within our reach/ 



" Considering the success of the two previous Expeditions, and 

 especially that of the ' Porcupine ' last year, the Committee are 

 persuaded that no less important acquisitions for the furtherance 

 of scientific knowledge would be gained by the renewed explora- 

 tion as now proposed ; and they accordingly recommend that a 

 representation to that effect be made to the Admiralty, with a 

 view to obtain the aid of Her Majesty's Government as on the 

 previous occasions. 



" The Committee approve of a proposal made by Mr. Gwyn 

 Jeffreys to accept the services of Mr. Lindahl, of Lund, in the 

 expedition as unpaid Assistant Naturalist. 



"As regards scientific instruments, the Committee have to 

 report that those employed in last year's voyage will be 

 again available for use ; and Mr. Siemens hopes to render 

 his electro-thermal indicator of more easy employment on 

 ship-board. 



