CONTENTS. 19 



CHAPTER XXIIL 



THE BED OF THE OCEAN. DEEP SEA SOUNDINGS. 



Page 

 Beauty of the tropical ocean — Average depth of the sea — Long a diffi- 

 cult question — First determined by the U. S navy — Mode of 

 taking soundings — Broolvs' sounding apparatus — The telegraph 

 plateau — No currents below 3,000 feet — No decomposition at 

 extreme depths — The sea a great nursery — Animal life at extreme 

 depths — Preservition of marine life — Conclusions of Professors 

 Bailey and Ehrenburg — De^p sea dredging expeditions — Food of 

 deep water animals — Limestone formations 392 — 412 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



PHENOMENA OF THE OCEAN. 

 Optical illusions in Arctic seas — The mirage — Vivid description by 

 Dr. Hayes — Aurora Borealis, or "Northern Daybreak" — Origin 

 supposed to be electrical — Other luminous meteors — Halos and 

 mock suns — The ice blink — Tide rip and Sea drift — Evaporation 

 and precipitation — Formation of water-spouts — Perilous escape 

 from a water-spout — Tornadoes and typhoons — The trade winds — 

 Explanation of atmospheric currents — Their functions — The 

 monsoon — Its beneficial effects — Hurricanes and cyclones — De- 

 scription of the Bore and Egre — Sub-marine earthquakes and 

 volcanoes — Islands rising from the sea — Cause — Red fog, or 

 shower-dust 413—444 



CHAPTER XXV. 



OCEAN STEAMSHIPS. 

 Universal interest respecting the "ocean palaces" — Fulton's "Cler- 

 mont" — Her size and rate of speed — Her first trip from New York 

 to Albany — Terrific appearance — Contrasted with modern steam- 

 ships — The Anchor Line of Steamships — The City of Rome — The 

 largest passenger steamer afloat — Her remarkable dimensions — 

 minute description of her interior 444 — 449 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE SIGNAL SERVICE. 

 Various modes of signaling — Field telegraph trains — Instruction of 

 officers and men for the service — Branches taught — Number of 



