1863.] DR. D. walker's NATURAL-HISTORY NOTES. 379 



also Daption capensis. Thalassidroma wilsonii replaced the T. pela- 

 (jica, which had been so plentiful in the Bay of Biscay. Off the 

 north end of the Straits I dredged in 65 fathoms, sand and stones, 

 and obtained two specimens of a Galathea, several of an Ophiocoma, 

 and a PalcBinon ; these I have not minutely examined as yet. There 

 came up also a very good specimen of Serolis fabricii ; this I closely 

 examined: — "Only one specimen, marbled and beautifully sculp- 

 tured. Anterior antennae of four joints ; first and second joints of 

 equal size ; third wider at base than apex ; fourth narrower and 

 slightly longer than third ; flagellum long and narrow, twice the size 

 of third joint ; setae at the termination of fourth joint. Inferior 

 antenna has three joints ; its peduncle is equal in length to three 

 joints of anterior antenna ; flagellum same length as second joint of 

 inferior anteima ; both antennae are fringed witli ciha, and have second 

 and third joints of peduncle somewhat flattened. First four joints 

 of pereion and the cephalon have the carina prolonged backwards 

 into a tooth. First four pereiopods long and slightly curved ; ex- 

 tremity of each joint furnished with a tuft of stiff hairs. First gna- 

 thopod pectinated on inner side of hand with a long finger. Telson 

 short and bluntly pointed. Between the eyes there are five protu- 

 berances, two of them horizontal between the anterior cornua, two 

 lying anteriorly and posteriorly between the posterior cornua, and a 

 large oue intermediate between the latter." The two before-mentioned 

 species of Albatros accompanied the ship as far north as 30° S. 

 From 28° S. to 5° S., each day we were visited by flocks of Tropic- 

 birds ; several were shot, but only one obtained, as fortunately it fell 

 on the deck. I made some notes at the time before preserving the 

 skin: — " Phaethon phoenicurus. From tip of beak to tip of longest 

 ordinary tail-feather 18| inches; one red tail-feather 9 inches ; from 

 tip of beak to extremity of commissure 3'6, 2-3 to extremity of nasal 

 opening. Bill red, with dark brown streak extending for \ an inch 

 before and behind the nasal opening ; eye dark brown, with a narrow 

 dark fringe round the eyehd, and for \ an inch above and behind it ; 

 outside of wing- and tail-feathers with black shafts, white towards 

 their ends, some of the tertiaries blackish ; red tail-feathers same 

 width throughout, with a black shaft ; feathers close to the vent 

 blackish ; ten tail-feathers ; a few dark spots scattered over the body. 

 Colour satin-white, with rosy tint. Legs white, shading to blue, 

 with dark webs; claws strongly curved. 18° 30' S. lat., 102° W 

 long.-— April 20, 1863." 



Only one specimen of the Frigate-bird (Fregata aquild) was here 

 seen. On the equator again the Dolphins swarmed aliout the ship 

 as before, accompanied by Bonito and Albicore, the flying fish being 

 abundant. Some specimens of Xanthichthys were obtained. Two 

 Sharks were caught, one blue, the other grey ; they had numerous 

 Remorce attached, and were piloted by Naucrates ductor. Quanti- 

 ties of Porpita glandifera, lying on the top of the water, floated by 

 us ; they had also been noticed on the line, in the Atlantic. Strong 

 breezes prevented the use of the towing-net in the Pacific. From 

 5° N. to 34° N. we again had Tropic-birds, some of which appeared 



