Feb. ir, 1875 J 



NATURE 



289 



of the Flores Sea on the west, is 900 fathoms beneath the 

 surface. 



From Amboina we went to Ternate, and thence across 

 the Mohicca passage and into the Celebes Sea by the 

 passage between Bejaren Island and the north-east point 

 of Celebes. On the 13th wc trawled and took serial 

 temperatures near Great Tawallie Island. The trawl 

 brought up several specimens of a very elegant stalked 

 halichondroid sponge new to science, and the thermo- 

 meter gave temperatures sinking normally to a bottom- 

 temperature of 2°04 C. On the (ollov.-ing day we sounded 

 in 1,200 fathoms, with again a normal bottom tempe- 

 rature of I'-g C. It seems, therefore, that the INIolucca 

 passage communicates freely with the outer ocean ; it 

 does so at all events to the depth of 1,200 fathoms, 

 and most probably to the bottom, if it include greater 

 depths. 



In the Celebes Sea we had two deep soundings 

 on the 20th, to 2,150 fathoms, and on the 22nd to 

 2600 fathoms. On both occasions serial tempe- 

 rature-soundings were taken, and on both the minimum 

 temperature of f-j C. (3S°7 F.) was reached at 700 

 fathoms. A passage of this depth into the Celebes Sea is 

 therefore indicated very probably from the Molucca 

 passage. This temperature coiresponds almost exactly 



with that taken by Capt. Chimmo in the same area. We 

 trav/led on the 20th, and although the number of speci- 

 mens procured was not large, thty were sufficient to give 

 eviderce of the presence of the usual deep-sea fauna. 



We reached Zamboanga on the 23rd, and on the '26th 

 wc passed into the Sulu Sea and trawled at a depth of 

 102 fathoms. On the 27th we sounded to 2,550 fathoms 

 and took a serial temperature-sounding. A minimurri 

 temperature of 10° C. was found at 400 fathoms, so that 

 the Sulu Sea must be regarded as the fourth of this sin- 

 gular succession of basins cut oft" by barriers of varyino- 

 height from communication with the ocean. This obser^ 

 vation in the main confirmed those of Capt. Chimmo in 

 the same locality. The minimum temperature reached 

 was the same in both, but we appear to have found it at a 

 somewhat higher level. 



We arrived at Ilo Ilo on the 28th, and proceeded by the 

 eastern passage to i\Ianila, which we reached on the 4th 

 of November. 



The collections have been packed and catalogued in 

 the usual way, and will be sent home from Hong Kong. 

 We have had an opportunity during this cruise of making 

 a very large number of observations of great interest. I 

 believe I may say that the departments under my charge 

 are going on in a very satisfactory way. 



THE MO AS OF NEW ZEALAND 



/^UITE recently lumcurs have reached us from New 

 \jj Zealand to the effect that two living specimens of the 

 colossal struthious birds, the Moas, have been captured 

 in the province of Otago, which are to be taken to Chrift- 

 church. That the genus Diiioniis, to which they belong, 

 has been extinct for seme time is the general impression, 

 and it is based on evidence of no inconsiderable weight. 

 Nevertheless, there are many reasons for the belief that 



it is not long since individuals of that ostrich-like group 

 peopled parts of New Zealand. In 1S70 Dr. Haast dis- 

 covered kitchen-middens made up of fragments of Moas 

 of different species, mixed up with bones of seals, dogs, 

 and gulls, together with pieces of chalcedony, agate, &c., 

 which evidently indicate that these gigantic birds were 

 contemporaneous with the ancient human inhabitants of 

 the islands. A human skeleton having been found with 

 a Dinornis egg between its arms is also evidence in the 

 same direction, as is the recent discovery of the neck of 



