Ch. XXrV.] EETEOSPECT. 431 



passed near enough to see that it was ciiltivated and mapped 

 into fields, and had a large town on the west side, near which 

 rose a sacro monte of considerable size, whose white chapels 

 glistened in the sun. 



A favourable breeze brought us in a few more days into 

 the Channel, and on the 21st July we dropped anchor at 

 Spithead. 



In conclusion, and by way of retrospect, I may safely say 

 that any one who will imdertake such a voyage as that whose 

 incidents I have recounted in the foregoing pages, will find 

 himself amply repaid by the stores of information which he 

 will insensibly but surely acquire by the constant observa- 

 tion of the phenomena around him ; and he cannot fail at 

 once to enrich his own mind, and to benefit science,, if he 

 will only faithfiilly use the opportunities which fall to his 

 lot. These opportunities of course will vaiy with circum- 

 stances, and are imfortunately, under the most favourable 

 conditions, not all that could be desired or wished ; never- 

 theless they will sometimes occur, even in the most adverse 

 cases, and so much is to be learned of marine animal life 

 within the tropics, that the most striking and novel facts 

 come to light when least expected or looked for. Whenever 

 the dredge can be used, a rich harvest is almost sure to 

 result — ^propoi-tionate to the rarity of the opportunity, which 

 in my experience was very great. But much may always be 

 done by a diligent investigator upon the shore, or by wading 

 in shallow places. And even when at sea, one need never 

 be idle, for there is abundant occupation for the microscope 

 and the pencil in the contents of the towing-net, or in the 

 numerous organisms which may be observed in occasional 

 calms. The great drawback in a ship of war is the necessity 



