THE COASTS OF SICILY. 17 



diterranean, which had been known only by their 

 large bivalve shells. 



The apparatus employed by M. Milne Edwards 

 in these submarine explorations was that which had 

 been invented by Colonel Paulin, a former Com- 

 mandant of the Fire Brigade of Paris, to be used 

 in case of fires in cellars. A metallic helmet, pro- 

 vided with a glass visor, encircled the head of the 

 diver, and was fastened round the neck by means 

 of a leather frame supported by a padded collar. 

 This helmet, which was in truth a miniature diving- 

 bell, communicated by a flexible tube with the air- 

 pump, which was worked by two of our men, whilst 

 two others stood ready to replace their companions. 

 The rest of the crew, under the orders of Perone, 

 held the end of a rope which, passing through a 

 pulley that was attached to the yard, was fixed to a 

 sort of harness by which we were enabled quickly 

 to draw up and embark the diver, who had been 

 drawn to the bottom of the water by means of heavy 

 lead soles, which were kept in their places by strong 

 straps. M. Blanchard took charge of the air-tube, 

 and watched that it did not become twisted by the 

 different movements made by M. Edwards or by the 

 swaying to and fro of our boat, while I retained in 

 my hand the rope by which the diver was to 

 make his signals, and God only knows with what 

 anxiety I watched its faintest motion. This will 

 be readily understood on considering that the slight- 

 est mistake might have proved fatal to M. Milne 

 Edwards. Notwithstanding all our care, the means 

 of safety at our disposal were very imperfect; for it 



VOL. II. C 



