172 EAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



chard intended making in reference to the nervous 

 system of the Mollusca ; Beroidfe, radiate gelatinous 

 animals belonging to the Acalepha3, creatures as trans- 

 parent as glass, and which had already formed the 

 subject of several important works by M. Edwards, 

 but whose singular organisation still presents innu- 

 merable problems for future solution ; and Annelids, 

 together with phlebenterous Gasteropods*, the study 

 of which had been the special object of my voyage. 

 We had, therefore, each a rich and noble field of in- 

 quiry opened to us, and, like industrious workmen, 

 we lost no time in bringing forth the tools which 

 were to aid us in our scientific labours ; thus, in a 

 few moments, our forceps, scalpels, compressors, and 

 microscopes were in full operation. 



I must not forget to mention that we were careful 

 before we set to work in good earnest, to partition 

 to each of the crew his special duties, and to arrange 

 our household in a systematic manner. The master, 

 Perone, who, as Captain, was necessarily associated 

 with his boat, became the leader of our fishing 

 excursions ; and his dexterity, keen sight, and 

 athletic strength, fully justified the confidence we 

 had placed in him in this capacity. The two sailors 

 who spoke Italian were appointed to perform any 

 special personal services that we might require. 

 Carmel was a fine fellow, about five and twenty years 

 old, whose quickness, intelligence, and willingness 

 to oblige, seemed to adapt him most thoroughly to 

 be our valet de chambre ; his comrade, Juseppe 



* I shall explain the meaning of the word Phkbenterata and 

 Phlebenterism in Chapter V., on Trapani. 



