1868.] on Deep-sea Dredgings. 169 



our inquiries hare been, in all essential particulars, fully as satisfactory as 

 we had ventured to anticipate. The lateness of the date at which the Ex- 

 pedition started (its departure from Stornoway having been necessarily de- 

 layed until August 11th), and the consequent limitation of the time during 

 which deep-sea dredging would be likely to be practicable, precluded the 

 idea that the present inquiry could be more than tentative, anything like 

 a systematic exploration of the Marine Zoology of the area we proposed to 

 traverse being scarcely to be expected. In point of fact, during the four 

 iveeks which elapsed between our first departure from Stornoway and our 

 return to it on September 9th, only nine days were available for dredging in 

 the open ocean ; and on only four of these were we on a bottom exceed- 

 ing 500 fathoms [914 metres] in depth; and in our second cruise of a 

 week's duration, we only dredged once. Yet, as will hereafter appear, we 

 have been enabled, by this very limited amount of work, not only to add 

 many new and interesting facts to science, in regard both to the Physics and 

 the Animal Life of the Ocean ; but also to correct serious errors which have 

 been sanctioned by high authority, and to lay a definite foundation for more 

 extended inquiries directed towards the solution of various general questions 

 of the highest importance. 



5. On the day after our first departure from Stornoway (August 12) we 

 were met by a breeze from the N.E., so strong that, although a sounding 

 was obtained in lat. 59° 20' N. and long. 7° 5' W., which indicated a depth 

 of at least 500 fathoms [914 metres], with a minimum temperature of 49° 

 [9°'4 Cent.], the temperature of the surface-water being 54|° [12°"5 Cent.], 

 any attempt to dredge was out of the question. 



6. This breeze lasted with considerable force for three days, during 

 which, being compelled to lie-to under canvas, we drifted to the northward 

 of the deep water; our first soundings after its abatement (August 15th) 

 giving depths of 229 and 164 fathoms [419 and 300 metres] respectively, 

 with a minimum temperature of 48° [8°'9 Cent.], the temperature of the 

 surface-water being 54° [12° -2 Cent.]. As we were then approaching the 

 Faroe Banks, we considered it expedient to devote a couple of days to the 

 examination of the distribution of Animal Life at these comparatively mode- 

 rate depths, and then to proceed to the Faroe Islands, reserving the deeper 

 water for our return voyage. 



7. The average depth of the Faroe Banks is about 60 fathoms [110 

 metres], and their minimum temperature was found to be about 50° 

 [10°-0 Cent.] when the temperature of the surface was 53° [ll°-6 Cent.]. 

 The character of the Marine Invertebrate Fauna of this region exhibited 

 the admixture of British and of Boreal types, which might be expected 

 from its temperature and geographical position, the former decidedly pre- 

 dominating. The common Ophiocoma rosula of our own shores (Ophio- 

 thrix fragilis of Mfiller and Troschel) presents itself in very great abund- 

 ance, and probably furnishes an important part of the food of the Cod 

 which frequent these banks. 



