Miscelianeous Intelligence. 401 
under similar conditions, it is unobjectionable. But it is no more 
logical to say, on this account, that we may be regarded as “ still 
living in the Cretaceous period,” than it would be to say we are 
still living in the Glacial period, because glaciers still remain in 
certain localities, and have persisted since the Glacial period. 
That the abyssal fauna of the Atlantic has many relations with 
corals and Echini, but these relations are only generic. No un- 
doubtedly identical species have been discovered, unless amon 
0 YVI 
, Challenger cast off 
from the jetty at Portsmouth, at 11.30 a.m. on December 21, with 
alow barometer. A strong southwesterly breeze was blowing, 
and the drum up; so that, especially in a season like the present, 
the prospect was not promising for the first few weeks of her voy- 
but between Lisbon and Gibraltar we made some impo 
periments, and found, among other things, that we could work 
