44 BULLETIN OF THE 
which were made about 300 miles southeast of Acapulco, and the depth 
must have been about 2,200 fathoms, as we were near soundings of over 
that depth. 
The same evening, about 250 miles from Acapulco, with a smooth 
sea which had continued all day, we towed the surface tow-net, carrying 
the electric light alongside. The net contained smal] Sagittas, Diphyes, 
Doliolum, and Hyalea. A great number of Halobates were attracted 
by the electric light, and caught with hand nets ; flying-fish of all sizes 
were darting about the electric light. The motion of the flying-fish 
could readily be followed in the water. They used their huge pectorals 
with extraordinary skill ; opening and shutting their wings rapidiy, they 
regulated their speed with ease, and by suddenly opening or shutting 
either wing, and planting it at a right angle to their course, they man- 
aged to check and change their motion and direction instantaneously. 
Either wing might in any stage of expansion be fully spread out or 
closed like a fan, and the wings were in constant play, opening and 
shutting their powerful fans to control their movements. We can under- 
stand how readily they manage to escape the attacks of fishes following 
them from below in the water, or of aquatic birds darting at them from 
above the surface. The surface net also contained Pteropods, Atlanta, 
Creseis, a large number of Schizopods, Sergestes, Leucifer, bells of 
Crystallodes, and numerous small Stomobrachium and Liriope, pelagic 
Annelids, Copepods, Sapphirina, Glaucus, Firoloides, and pelagic flounder 
embryos. The number of specimens of Sagitta was extraordinary ; they 
practically filled the net. 
In the evening the Tanner tow-net was also sent to 175 fathoms, 
where it was towed for ten minutes, and the messenger sent down to 
close it. The lower net came up well filled with the surface pelagic 
species, which on this day were unusually varied, it having been smooth 
and calm the previous night, and the morning before the towing was 
made. But the quantity of animal life was much less, although the 
deep haul was continued longer than the surface towing. So that on 
this occasion the bulk of the pelagic fauna was evidently nearer the 
surface. 
Tur ACALEPHS OF THE PANAMIC DIsTRICT. 
As far as I could jndge from a preliminary examination of the frag- 
ments of Siphonophores and of the specimens in more or less perfect 
state of preservation brought in by the surface tow-nets and the Tanner 
