1868.] 



on Deep-sea Dredgings. 



183 



Protozoa . . 

 Ccelenterata 



f Rhizopoda 68 



\ Spongiee 5 



f Anthozoa 20 



[ Hydrozoa . . 2 



fCrinoidea 2 



Asterida 21 



Echinida 5 



Holothurida 8 



Vermes. 



f Gephyrea 6 



1 Annelida 51 



fPolyzoa 35 



I Tunicata 4 



Mollusca -=j Brachiopoda 4 



I Conchifera 37 



l^Cephalophora 53 



A , t , f Arachnida 1 



Arthropoda j Crustacea _105 



427 



Of these, 20 species of Rhizopoda, 3 of Echinodermata, 8 of Conchifera, 

 3 of Cephalophora, and 4 of Crustacea — in all 42 — are recorded as having 

 been found at 450 fathoms. 



Shortly after our return, I learned that an exploration of the deep sea 

 by means of the Dredge had been very successfully commenced by Count 

 Pourtales, in connexion with the United States Coast Survey ; and I have 

 since received from Mr. Alexander Agassiz the following account of its 

 results : — " He has dredged to 500 fathoms along quite a line of sections 

 between Florida and Cuba; and under this pressure of nearly 100 atmo- 

 spheres he has found Echini, Starfishes, Ophiuridans, Crinoids, Corals, 

 many kinds of Crustacea, Annelids, Mollusca, Molluscoids, and, in fact, 

 a Fauna as plentifully represented as along the most populous of our 

 marine shore-fauna. It has been decided to send Mr. Pourtales again this 

 winter ; and with his former experience and additional equipment, we may 

 look for grand results. The facilities placed at his disposal are very great ; 

 as his dredging- work is done in connexion with regular soundings carried 

 on by the Survey of the Gulf-stream commenced by Mr. Bache and pro- 

 secuted by his successor Prof. Pierce"*. 



Our own Dredgings, which have extended to a depth of 650 fathoms, 

 are still the deepest of which I have any knowledge. They were accom- 

 plished without any serious difficulty, and with results fully as satisfactory 

 as those of ordinary shore-dredging. And I have no doubt that similar 

 dredges, worked by adequate engine-power, would answer equally well at 

 those far greater depths, our knowledge of the living inhabitants of which 

 has been hitherto limited (with the notable exception of the Mediterranean 



* A fuller notice of these results will be found in Silliman's Journal for November 

 1868, and Annals of Nat. Hist. Jan. 



