TllANSACTIONS OV THE SECTIONS. 14.3 



The only theory in explanation of tlio phenomena of instinct that has an air of 

 science about it is the doctrine of inherited association. Instinct in the present 

 generation is the product of the accumulated experiences of past generations. Great 

 difficulty, however, is felt by many in conceiving how any thing so impalpable as 

 fear at the sight of a bee should pass by inheritance from parent to ofi'spiing. It 

 should be remembered, however, that the permanence of such associations in the 

 history of an individual life depends on the corresponding impress given to the 

 nervous organism. AVe cannot, strictly speaking, experience any individual ftict of 

 consciousness twice over ; but, as by pulling the bell-cord to-day we can, in tho 

 language of ordinary discourse, produce the same sound we heard yesterday, so, 

 while the established connexions among the nerves and nerve-centres hold, we are 

 enabled to live our experiences over again. Now, why should not these modifications 

 of brain-matter (that, enduring from hour to hour aud from day to day, render 

 acquisition possible) be, like any other physical peculiarity, transmitted from parent 

 to oflspring? That they are so transmitted is all but proved by the facts of 

 instinct, while these in their turn reeeiye their only rational explanation in this 

 theory of Inherited Association, 



Ifotes of a Deeji-sea Dmhj'mg-Expedition round the Island of Anticosti, in 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence. By J. F. WniTEAyES, F.'G.S. 



Through the kindness of the IIou. Peter Mitchell, Minister of Marine and 

 -Fisheries for the Dominion of Canada, who not only gave the author facilities for 

 dredging oii board Government vessels, but caused rope enough to be placed at his 

 disposal to enable him to examine the greatest depths, the expedition, of which 

 a brief descriptive resume- is here oftered, was undertaken. Five weeks were spent 

 at sea, and depths of from 100 to 250 fathoms were successfully explored during 

 the m<mths of July and August 1871. 



The area investigated includes an entire circuit of the island of Anticosti, as fiir 

 to the N. W. as Point des Monts (on the north shore of the Kivcr St. Lawrence), 

 and to the S.W. as the Magdalen Islands. It was the author's intention to 

 have tried to dredge in the deepest part of the gulf, in a spot situated halfway 

 between the east end of the island of Anticosti aud the Bird Eocks, where, ac- 

 cording to the Admiralty charts, the bottom is 313 fathoms deep. Unfortunately, 

 however, when this particular point was reached, and every thing got ready, a gale 

 from the N.W. sprung up, which made dredging quite impracticable. 



Attempts were made (by using a common thermometer with a metal case and 

 perforated base) to ascertain the temperature of the deep-sea mud. When im- 



. , .., „„ Anticosti 



and tlic south shore, on one occasion, only made the mercury fall to from 42° to 

 45° Fahr. Sand brought up from 25 f\ithoms on the north "shore also made the 

 mercury sink to about 37° or 38° Falir. 



It is estimated that upwards of 100 species of marine invertebrates new to the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence were collected. Of these, 30 or 40 have never been taken 

 before on the American side of the Atlantic, and several are new to science. The 

 number is made up as follows : — 



Foraminifcra 12 



Polj-cystina 3 



Sponges Q 



Hydrozoa ' . '. "(about) 10 



Actmozoa 4 



Echinodermata 2 



^""eliclii (at ieastj 20 



Crustacea 10 



Polyzoa ]2 



Moilusca 24 



K2 



11* 



