NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 491 



cavity was to be seen rising and falling, with a regular pulsating motion, as the animal 

 in breathing took in the water, which was afterwards expelled through the siphon. The 

 tentacle-like arms contrast strongly with those of most other Cephalopods, because of their 

 relatively extreme slightness and shortness, though they are not shorter proportionately 

 than those of the living Sepia. They are held by the animal, whilst swimming, extended 

 radially from the head, somewhat like the tentacles in a sea anemone ; but each pair has its 

 definite and different direction, which is constantly maintained. This direction of the many 

 pairs of tentacles at constant but different angles from the head, is the most striking feature 

 to be observed in the living Nautilus. Thus, one pair of tentacles was held pointing 

 directly downwards ; two other pairs, situated just before and behind the eyes, were held 

 projecting obliquely outwards and forwards, and backwards respectively, as if to protect 

 the organs of sight. In a somewhat corresponding manner, the tentacular arms of the 

 common cuttle-fish whilst living are maintained in a marked and definite attitude, as may 

 be observed in any aquarium. Another living Nautilus was brought to the Consul at 

 Kandavu during the stay of the Challenger. The natives were said to frequently catch 

 them alive, and to give them to their chiefs, who eat them. 



Ngaloa. — The ship left Matuku at 4 p.m. on the 24th July, and on the following morning 

 at daylight the whole of the Kandavu group was well in sight, and the ship was steered 

 for Ngaloa Harbour, which it was proposed to survey in consequence of its having been 

 made a port of call for the mail steamers running between Sydney and San Francisco. 

 No'difticulty was experienced in entering the harbour under sail, for the reefs and dangers 

 can all be readily distinguished from aloft. At 11 a.m. the vessel "came to" on the 

 south side of Ngaloa Island, in 15 fathoms, and in the afternoon a tide pole was put 

 up and other preliminary operations performed so that the survey might be commenced 

 at once. 



The survey was continued, and astronomical observations obtained on the 26th ; on the 

 27th the ship left Kandavu for the capital of the Fiji group, to connect the island with 

 Captain Denham's position at Levuka, and to complete the stock of coals and other 

 necessaries. At 6 p.m. on the 27th, when to the southward of Kandavu, the light cast by 

 the moon on the water ahead, appeared exactly like a reef, and for a short time it was 

 thought to be one ; and once again, shortly afterwards, the same deceptive appearance caused 

 the officers of the watch to stop and go full speed astern. Such phenomena are frequently 

 reported as reefs, and had it not been ascertained that this appearance was merely caused by 

 a break in the clouds, through which the moon cast a peculiar reflection on the water, it 

 might have been inferred that a shoal existed. At 10.30 p.m., after the vessel rounded 

 the eastern end of Kandavu Island, the fires were put out and sad was made for Levuka. 

 At daybreak on the 28th the vessel was close to the position of a recently reported 

 reef, Metcore, but nothing was seen of it ; the traders at Kandavu knew nothing of it, 



