40 Mr. J. Priestley on the [Nov. 18, 



the North Pacific, at depths of from 2000 to 3000 fathoms, although not 

 very abundant in species, is by no means meagre. In each of six 

 dredgings and trawlings at depths greater than 2000 fathoms we found, 

 along with a few Pishes, a fair representation of all the larger invertebrate 

 groups ; and in one dredging, No. 253, at a depth of 3125 fathoms, we 

 took a small Sponge, a species of Oornularia, an Actinia, an Annelid in a 

 tube, and a Bryozoon. We were again struck with the wonderful uni- 

 formity of the fauna at these depths ; if not exactly the same species, very 

 similar representatives of the same genera occur in all parts of the world. 

 I am glad to be able to report that every thing is going on in a satis- 

 factory way in the departments under my charge. 



I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Tour obedient Servant, 



C. Wyville Thomson, 

 Director of Civilian Scientific 

 Captain Evans, C.B., F.E.S., Staff on board H.M.S. ' Challenger. 7 



Hydrograjpher, Admiralty. 



II. "On the Physiological Action of Vanadium/" By John 

 Priestley, Piatt Physiological Scholar, the Owens College, 

 Manchester. Communicated by Prof. Gamgee, F.B.S. Re- 

 ceived June 18, 1875. 



(Abstract.) 



The author has divided his paper into four sections. 



In the first the subject is introduced by a brief statement of the rela- 

 tionships of vanadium to other elements of the same and of allied 

 groups ; and the main object of the research is set forth, viz. by an ex- 

 tended investigation to endeavour to fix the physiological relationships of 

 vanadium to the closely allied elements arsenic and phosphorus, so as 

 to throw some light on the relations which probably exist between the 

 chemical and physiological properties of the elements. The tribasic 

 sodium vanadate (Na 3 Y0 4 ) is stated to have been the compound of vana- 

 dium made use of throughout the research, and the reasons of the pre- 

 ference are given. 



In the second section the action of solutions of sodium vanadate 

 upon simple organisms is shortly illustrated by the details of four sets 

 of experiments, from which the conclusion is drawn that all solutions, 

 except those which are extremely dilute (i. e. which contain only so much 

 salt as corresponds to *01--5 per cent, of V 2 5 ), act injuriously upon the 

 simpler organisms. 



In the third section the effects of vanadium in the above combination 

 on complex organisms are discussed under two heads, viz. : — 



A. The general action on the animal system when introduced by 



