80 



REPORT — 1877. 



of M. Sar.?, and fragments of Saxicava rugosa, Linne", and of other shells which 

 are unknown to me. Among these was a dead but perfect specimen of Crenella 

 fuba, Fabricius, which is a common inhabitant of the laminarian zone in Arctic 

 seas, and may have been voided by a fish or sea-bird. This would account for the 

 occasional occurrence at great depths of other shallow-water shells and fragments. 



I had the good fortune to take part in the two ' Porcupine ' expeditions of 1869 

 and 1870 and in the ' Valorous ' cruise of 1875 ; and the Mollusca of the ' Light- 

 ning' (1868), < Challenger ' (1873-76), and 'Voringen' (1876) expeditions have 

 been submitted to my inspection. I am consequently enabled to form some idea 

 of the bathymetrical distribution of the Mollusca thus obtained, with the aid of 

 my dredging experience for upwards of forty years. 



Perhaps the best way of communicating this idea to others will be by giving 

 the subjoined list of the species of deep-sea Mollusca dredged by me in the ' Valorous,' 

 all of which are found at depths exceeding 1000 fathoms. The range of deptli 

 there and elsewhere in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean will be noted, as 

 well as some geological and other observations. Four only of such deep dredgings 

 were made during the cruise, viz. in 1100, 1750, 1450, and 1785 fathoms. The 

 first two were in Davis Strait, and the other two between Cape Farewell and 

 W. Long. 26° on the return voyage. 



