RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST, 



CHAPTER V. 



THE COASTS OF SICILY. 

 MILAZZO, STROMBOLI, JARDINI. 



7" Zoological poverty of the western coasts of Sicily. Journey by 

 land from Trapani to Cephalu. Milazzo. Sedimentary rocks 

 of contemporaneous formation. Milne Edwards's submarine 

 excursions. Stromboli. Excursion to the volcano. Phospho- 

 rescence of the sea. Messina. Jardini. Difference between 

 the natural method and classifications. Embryological studies of 

 Milne Edwards ; progressive characterisation of animal species. 

 Blanchard's investigations on the nervous system. Organic 

 complication of some of the lower animals. Degradation of 

 superior types; the Amphioxus. Simultaneous appearance of 

 different animal types in ancient geological epochs. 



IT had been our intention, when we first arrived in 

 Sicily, to make the entire circuit of the island, but 

 the information which we obtained in the course 

 of our wanderings, gradually modified our original 

 plans. Our men had now begun to comprehend 

 the object of our voyage, and had learned, day by 

 day, better to appreciate the conditions necessary 

 to the success of our researches. Artese and Cannel, 



VOL. II. B 



