X. PREFACE. 



In the collection of objects of Natural History, I was 

 fortunate enough to possess an acute observer in the 

 person of my Assistant-Surgeon Mr. Adams, whose 

 remarks on the Plants and Animals of the countries 

 visited, will be read with interest by all who can ap- 

 preciate the delight experienced by the Naturalist, when 

 transported to so prolific, and comparatively new, a field 

 for observation as the remote islands of the Blue and 

 Yellow Seas. In the department of Mollmca, to which 

 I was myself chiefly attached, the zealous and successful 

 exertions of Mr. Adams in obtaining drawings of the 

 living animals, deserve my warmest commendation ; and 

 it is pleasing to me to know that the materials now 

 preparing for publication are likely to furnish more im- 

 portant matter than has been contributed by any former 

 British Expedition. It will be sufficient to notice, that 

 the Molluscous division of the Zoology commences with 

 an elaborate memoir on the anatomy of that remarkable 

 Cephalopod, which has so long evaded the pursuit of 

 the naturalist, the Spirula, or Ram's-Horn, by Professor 

 Owen, the accomplished dissector of the Pearly Nautilus. 



In conclusion, I thank my officers, Messrs. Browne, 

 Richards, and Adams, for their skilful aid in preparing 

 the drawings with which the Narrative is illustrated, 

 and it only remains to ask a seaman's indulgence for 

 any errors or ambiguity in the composition. 



