I885-I886.] 423 



were given to take advantage of the lull in the work, and have 

 tea served out, and soon the aroma of Assam souchong was 

 being wafted aft, followed by that refreshing beverage, and 

 biscuits in such ample measure as proved that the commissary 

 department had in no way been neglected. It was noted, how- 

 ever, that, although the flavour was all that could be desired, 

 something had gone wrong with the fine grating in the tea- 

 pots, and several of the cups showed slightly more leaves than 

 would have been considered correct at a fashionable "after- 

 noon.*' While tea was being enjoyed in easy attitudes, the 

 grand scenery of the Gobbin cliffs was passing in rapid 

 review, and under the most favourable conditions of sparkling 

 sunshine, and comparatively smooth water. Had scenery alone 

 been the object of the cruise, this splendid, and to some unex- 

 pected, view of these perpendicular cliffs of basalt, rising to a 

 height of 250 feet above the deep water, would amply have 

 satisfied all. Rounding Muck Island — an outlier of the range 

 of cliffs — and getting into deeper water, soundings are taken 

 and 35 fathoms announced. It is decided, therefore, to again 

 send down 



The dredge with its iron edge, 



And its mystical triangle, 

 And its hidden net, with meshes set, 



Odd fishes to entangle ! 



Rope almost equal to double the depth of water is given, and 

 more time allowed for filling. Towing nets are again in requi- 

 sition, and perhaps the most remarkable object collected by 

 this means was the cydippe — Pleurobrachia pileus — a trans- 

 parent gelatinous animal belonging to the Actinozoa, furnished 

 with several bands of minute cilia, kept in intense activity. 



The bringing in of the dredge this time, from the greater 

 depth of water, was not so easy a matter as before. In addition 

 to the weight of the dredge and its contents, there were sixty 

 fathoms of rope to draw through the water, adding materially 

 to the labour. The steamer's deck had also become a somewhat 

 unsteady footing, but by passing the rope forward and getting 

 as many hands at it as room would permit, it was slowly accom- 

 plished and the contents discharged. There were more poly- 



