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



mari immissus pondere ferrei apparatus fundum 

 plerumque petit, interdum diuersorum 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. 



"Eundo iniacens ope remorum aut venti modici 

 trahitur, donee tract um quendam quaeuis obuia exci- 

 piendo confecerit. In cymbam denique retrahitur spe 

 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 interuallo vel in perpetuum omnia experi- 

 entis retrahendi inuenta frustrat ; interdum quideni 

 vnum et alterum molluscum, helminthicum, aut tes- 

 taceum minus notuni in dulce laborum lenimen 

 reportat." Miiller graphically describes the difficul- 

 ties which he encountered- in 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 minutorum interuallo in frigidum, 

 tempestas serena in horridam, malacia infida in aestu 

 ferventem 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, 



