168 
NATURE 
[Dec. 9, 1869 
| 
long exclusively to the tertiary formation and hitherto con- | 
sidered extinct. Such are Leda excisa of Philippi, and an | 
undescribed species of the same genus (Calabrian and 
Sicilian fossils), Scalaria corrugata of Brocchi (Subapen- 
nine), Kellia pumila, Neera jugosa, and Cerithium grano- | 
sum, all of S. Wood (Coralline Crag), and an undescribed 
species of /’usus,which I propose to name Savsz, lately | 
found in the Red Crag. Mr. Wood is inclined to refer this | 
last species to /. SPitzbergensis of Reeve ; I regret that 
I cannot agree with him in such determination. Our 
Coralline and Red Crag beds notoriously contain a large 
proportion of northern species; and I was not far wrong 
in regarding the former as the “cradle” of the British 
Mollusca. I may here remark that, as in Shetland, | 
valves and fragments of Pecten Islandicus, Tellina cat- 
carta, and Mya truncata var. Uddevallensis (all Arctic 
species) were dredged in rather deep water, on the western 
coasts of Ireland ; and a perfect specimen of Leda arctica 
was found in Loch Torridon. These shells are appa- 
rently in a semi-fossil condition ; but it is impossible to 
say whether they are quaternary or recent. 
As regards marine zoology, this expedition has produced 
results more important than those which have ever been 
obtained in any previous expedition of the kind by the 
enterprise of our own or any other nation ; and I cannot 
help expressing a fervent wish that it may be renewed 
next year. The United States, France, Sweden, and 
Norway are prosecuting with great success this line of 
scientific research ; and I feel confident that Great Britain, 
with her vast wealth, naval resources, intelligence, energy, 
and perseverance, will keep the lead which she has now 
taken. 
As one of the naturalists who were privileged to assist | 
in the late expedition I shall be happy again to place my | 
humble services at the disposal of the Royal Society in 
continuation of the work, especially in conjunction with 
Dr, Carpenter and Prof. Wyville Thomson, 
J. GWYN JEFFREYS 
*,* At the Meeting of the Royal Society at which 
the observations described in the above paper were com- | 
municated, Professor Alexander Agassiz gave an account of 
the principal results arrived at by the American Dredging 
Expedition. The ground explored was limited to a length 
of about 120 miles by 60 to go miles in width between the 
Florida Keys and the Northern Coast of Cuba, and 
although the depth reached was by no means as great 
as that attained by the last British expedition, not being 
much more than one-third of it, about 820 fathoms, yet the 
results were fully as striking, and agree in the main points 
with the conclusions arrived at by the English explorers. 
Commencing with the sponges, which contained a great 
number of siliceous forms, he gave as the results-of the 
examination of Dr. Oscar Schmidt, of Graatz, the specific 
identity of the majority of the species with Mediterranean, 
Azoric, and Atlantic species, showing a geographical range 
quite unprecedented, and extending the Atlantic fauna from 
the Gulf of Mexico to the Bermudas, the Azores, the Medi- 
terranean, the Western Coasts of Europe, and extending 
far north to the boreal regions of Norway, Iceland, and 
Greenland. These same results would apply, as far as the 
collections have been examined, to the Echinoderms, 
Mollusca, and Crustacea, though the number of identical 
species in these branches over this extensive Atlantic area 
is much smaller. Among the Echinoderms, the £chinz 
specially showed several new and interesting forms, re- 
calling types characteristic of the cretaceous period ; one 
genus especially, the genus Sa/enza, is represented in our 
seas by a most interesting species. Another cretaceous 
type, a new genus of Sfatangida (Pourtalesia) was found 
in deep water in Florida, and like the Crinoid genus 
Rhizocrinus, was also dredged by the Porcupine expe- 
dition. Several other species of Echinoderms were also 
shown to be identical on both sides of the Atlantic. 
Prof. A. Agassiz gave besides an instance of one of these 
so-called cretaceous generic types, which was only the 
young stage of a well-known genus represented from the 
time of the chalk through the tertiaries, and which is now 
found living in the tropical seas, showing how careful we 
. . * 
| ought to be in our generalisations when drawn from a 
class where the transformations from the young stages to 
the adult are as great as they are in Echinoderms. He 
gave as an example of this the case of two species of 
Echini, one of which is known under one generic name 
(Stolonoclypews), as the adult, in Florida, while the young 
is known under a different generic name (Zchinocyamus) 
in Europe, and endeavoured to explain by the action of 
the currents the migration of the pelagic embryos, many 
of which remain in a helpless condition for several months, 
and thus to show how changes of currents, brought about 
by the elevation or subsidence of portions of continents, 
would fully account for the present limitation of marine 
faunz. The presence of corals at great depths will 
also materially alter the views generally received of the 
depth at which reef-builders may work, and modify to a 
certain extent Darwin’s theory of the reefs, and their mode 
of growth. Prof. A. Agassiz alluded to the probable con- 
tinuation of the exploration of the Gulf Stream by Prof. 
Pierce, the superintendent of the W. S. Coast Survey, 
who was carrying out the plans laid out by his pre- 
decessor, Professor Bache ; and trusted that the Coast 
Survey would carry on the investigations so successfully 
inaugurated, thanks to the enlightened views of Professor 
Pierce, and the executive ability of the assistant in charge, 
Count Pourtales. This exploration would consist of a 
series of normals to the coast of the United States, ex- 
tending from Georgia to New York, completely across the 
Gulf Stream, thus extending sufficiently far north to meet 
upon a common ground the English expedition, which the 
British Government could not fail to send in consequence 
of the brilliant results of the two previous years. 
SCHOLARSHIPS AND EXHIBITIONS FOR 
NATURAL SCIENCE IN CAMBRIDGE 
{pee following is a list of the scholarships and 
exhibitions for proficiency in natural science, 
which are likely to be offered in Cambridge during the 
ensuing year. 
Trinity College—One of the value of about £80 per 
annum. The examination (in chemistry, physics, physical 
geology, including meteorology and the elements of 
mineralogy) will be in Easter week, and will be 
open to all undergraduates of Cambridge and Oxford. 
Further information may be obtained from the Rey. E. 
Blore, tutor of Trinity College. 
St. Fohn’s College—One of the value of £50 per annum. 
The examination (in chemistry, physics and physiology, 
with geology, anatomy, and botany) will be on 29th and 
30th of April, and will be open to all persons who are not 
entered at the University, as well as to all who have entered 
and have not completed one term of residence. In this 
College, moreover, natural science now is made one of 
the subjects of the regular college examination of its 
students at the end of the academical year (in May) ; and 
exhibitions and foundation scholarships will in conse- 
quence be awarded to students who show an amount of 
knowledge equivalent to that which in classics or mathe- 
matics usually gains an exhibition scholarship in the 
College. In short, natural science is on the same footing 
as classics and mathematics, both as regards teaching 
and rewards. 
Christ’s College-——One to four, and in value from 30/. 
to 7o/., according to the number and merits of the 
candidates, tenable for three and a half years, and three 
years longer by those who reside during that period at the 
College. The examination will be in April, 1870, and will 
be open to the undergraduates of Christ’s College; to non- 
