56 



The paper was followed by remarks from the Rev. Dr. Mac- 

 Ilwaine/Mr. Stewart, Mr. William Gray, Mr. Swanston, Mr. William 

 Patterson, and the chairman, who cordially agreed with Dr. Burden 

 as to the desirability of establishing an aquarium in this town. 

 Mr. Stewart, however, thought that the Museum was not the best 

 place for it, and suggested that the Town Council might, with 

 advantage, place one in the proposed public park. The Rev. Dr. 

 Macllwaine thought that the Botanic Gardens would be a suitable 

 place for a fresh water aquarium. Dr. Burden was enabled to illus- 

 trate many parts of his paper by reference to a tastefully-arranged 

 and well-stocked' aquarium, which had been kindly lent for the 

 occasion by one of the ladies of the Club. 



On Wednesday evening, 27th April, a lecture was delivered by 

 Dr. Wyville Thomson, F.R.S., on "Animal Life at Great Depths 

 in the Sea." The lecturer began by referring to the expeditions 

 undertaken under the auspices of the Royal Society, first in H.M.S. 

 Lightning, in the year 1865, and during the past year in H.M.S. 

 Porcupine, which was placed at the disposal of Dr. Carpenter and 

 himself to examine the sea-bottom to the North of Scotland. 

 During the latter expedition they examined the sea extending from 

 the outside of the Bay of Biscay, all along the West of Ireland, 

 and West of Scotland to the North of Rockall; and then round 

 rather to the Eastward, to the Faroe Islands. They found that the 

 circumstances and condition of life, temperature, depth, &c, in 

 different parts of 'the region examined, varied very greatly. The 

 greatest depth at which they dredged during the cruise was off the 

 Bay of Biscay, about 25 miles West of Ushant. In the neighbour- 

 hood of Rockall, and various places off the West of Scotland, the 

 depth was from r,ooo to 1,400 fathoms; and in the region between 

 the Faroe Islands and the North of Scotland only 400 to 600 fathoms. 

 Dr. Thomson stated that the belief held by scientific men was that 

 animal life became scarce at great depths, and that it disappeared 

 altogether at a depth of about 300 fathoms. On surveying expedi- 

 tions, in various parts of the world, star-fish, crustacean, &c, had 



