THE EUROPEAN SEAS. 



77 



cranium), a curious globular sponge of a bright sul- 

 phur-yellow colour, and as large as an orange. Occa- 

 sionally they bring up the great Madrepore, striking 

 among Boreal productions. A rare but excellent fish 

 is the tusk, and another of their curiosities is derived 

 from among the vertebrata, being that extraordinary 

 shark, the Chimera monstrosa. These seas are fre- 

 quented by the lesser cetacea, and not unfrequently 

 by finner whales of considerable dimensions. 

 The Zetland seas were the scene of the earlier 

 researches of Professor Jameson, and of Dr. Fleming, 

 names that will ever shed a lustre on British natu- 

 ral history. The seals which frequent them (the 

 great Phoca barbata is one) have been carefully 

 studied by Dr. Edmonston, himself a Zetlander, 

 and whose most promising son, the author of a 

 " Flora of Zetland," held out hopes of high scien- 

 tific distinction, alas, prematurely arrested by his 

 accidental death when prosecuting his researches 

 on the coast of Peru. Of late years, Mr. M'Andrew 

 has cruised with great success in this interesting 

 district, cruises in which I have had the great 

 pleasure of sharing, and of aiding in gathering an 

 abundant store of valuable observations in all de- 

 partments of our science. 



