128 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



taken at four o'clock next morning, about sixty miles from 

 land, which gave 345 fathoms, The beam trawl was immedi- 

 ately sent down, and, on being brought to the surface at 7-30, 

 was found to contain a large number of rare and beautiful 

 specimens. Among the Echinoids, or sea-urchins, Dorocidaris 

 and Spatangus were conspicuous, and the beautiful starfish 

 Brissinga was present in abundance ; the net also contained 

 a fine example of the large univalve shell, Cassidaria Tyrrhena, 

 which was first obtained as a British species on the previous 

 cruise of the Lord Bandon. Steaming westward again, when 

 the log registered 19 knots, another sounding was taken, and 

 the machine recorded the great depth of 1,020 fathoms, and 

 the sounder came up with the interior of the gun-metal tube 

 filled with Globigerina ooze. The Agassiz trawl was then 

 unshipped and sent to the bottom, with 1,270 fathoms of steel 

 rope attached ; and when this great length of rope was at 

 last reeled in, and the trawl got on board, it yielded some 

 very extraordinary forms. During the night a gale was en- 

 countered, and all steam was made for Valentia, but as morning 

 advanced the storm subsided, and the boat's head was again 

 turned westward, and at midday, in a very heavy sea, the 

 Agassiz trawl brought up a magnificent assortment of deep- 

 sea animals from 750 fathoms. There were great Holothurice 

 or sea-slugs, red, purple, and green ; beautiful corals, numerous 

 sea-urchins, with long, slender spines ; a great variety of splen- 

 did Asteroidta, or star fishes, two of which will constitute an 

 entirely new genus ; and many other most interesting specimens. 

 Photographs and drawings of these rare animals were displayed 

 on the walls of the lecture-room. 



By the time these deep-sea treasures had been safely bottled 

 away, it was blowing so hard that it was deemed necessary to 

 run for shelter, and ere Berehaven was reached, heavy seas 

 had swept the decks, smashing the starboard paddlebox, and 

 wrecking the cook's galley. Next day the gale continued, and 

 the Flying Falcon remained at anchor opposite Castletown, 

 while the crew busied themselves in repairing damages, and the 



