120 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
35 fathoms, thereby bringing to light a mass of dead coral honeycombed 
by Pholades, and containing within its recesses a variety of Crustaceans, 
Annelids, Echinoderms, Alge, &c. Our next dredging operations were 
over the Victoria Bank, in lat. 20° 42’ S., long. 37° 27’ W., when the 
principal feature was the acquisition of numerous examples of a pretty little 
glassy-spiculed sponge. On the 14th October, when in lat. 30° 41’ §., and 
one hundred miles from the Brazilian coast, we met with one of those 
extraordinary flights of moths so characteristic of the region. Conspicuous 
by their numbers and by the pertinacity with which they clung to the sails, 
and, in fact, to every available dry substance, was a species of large Sphinx. 
Of moths I captured altogether about fifteen species, and of butterflies two 
or three. ‘The ship presented quite a gay appearance amid these swarms of 
insect-life. Owing to the rapid passages which we have hitherto made, I have 
had comparatively few opportunities of satisfactorily plying the tow-net. A 
speed of three or four knots soon wears out the net, and is, moreover, 
destructive of the fragile organisms sought after. I have, however, obtained 
a fair collection of pelagic Mollusca, minute crustaceans, and protozoa, all 
of which have been carefully preserved and labelled. I do not expect to 
meet with many birds worth preserving until we reach the inner waters of 
the west coast of Patagonia; but from these, as well as from the Pacific 
Islands, I hope to send specimens. ‘There is a certain pair of lonely un- 
inhabited islands in the South Pacific known as St. Felix and St. Ambrose, 
and which, as they lie far away from the main groups and four hundred and 
eighty miles from the American coast, might be expected to possess a fauna 
and flora exhibiting peculiarities similar to those of the Galapagos group. 
I am in hopes of being able to explore these islands during the southern 
winter of 1879—i. e., when the rigour of the weather compels us to suspend 
our Magellan operations and proceed northward to Coquimbo. Sir J. Hooker 
has already pointed out to me that the flora of St. Felix is quite unknown, 
and that its investigation would probably prove of great interest. Any 
information, therefore, concerning the Natural History of those islands 
would, during the next year, prove most useful and interesting to me. 
Sir George Nares is doing his best to make everyone comfortable, and gives 
me every assistance in his power. I do not expect any great things in 
Magellan, as it is such an unproductive region, and has already been so 
thoroughly worked up, but in the Pacific [ trust we shall have scope for 
much useful work.” 
Tae Roz-DEER IN Dorsetsurre.—In your review of ‘ The History of 
Glanville’s Wootton,’ by Mr. Dale (Zool. 1878, p. 461), you notice a state- 
ment of the author's that the Roe-deer is rare. This may possibly be the 
case, if he refers merely to the neighbourhood of Glanville’s Wootton, but 
not to the county of Dorset. I venture to say there are uo less than one 
