2 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



pressure that would upon the surface grind a rock to powder, are 

 studies replete with instruction and value — studies which can "be 

 turned to a good geological account, and made to bear reference to a 

 past fauna as well as to a living one. I will attempt, therefore, to 

 give an abstract of the valuable contribution to our knowledge of 

 animal life in deep sea-zones, which contains the important discovery 

 I allude to ;* for as the pamphlet is printed " for private circulation," 

 it is only attainable by the few. In it the author not only gives us 

 in one view a resume of our present data upon the subject, but a series 

 of notes which point, with no uncertain finger, to a great extension 

 of them. 



Dr. Wallich's zoological labours while on duty entitle him to rank 

 as no mean associate of the great naturalists to whom he gracefully 

 dedicates his notes ; and the modest way in which he introduces a 

 strong foundation for a most important inquiry, proves that he looks 

 upon scientific experience 



"As an arch wherethro' 

 Gleams that untravell'd world, whose margin fades 

 For ever and for ever when I move." 



In sounding not quite midway between Cape Farewell and Rock- 

 all, at a point east of Iceland, and in one thousand two hundred and 

 sixty fathoms of water, the sounding apparatus brought up an ample 

 specimen of coarse gritty-looking ooze, containing about ninety-five 

 per cent, of Globigerina-shelh (an important genus of the Foramini- 

 fera) ; while adherent to the lowest fifty fathoms of the line, a number 

 of starfishes, belonging to the genus Ophiocoma, came up. They had 

 attached themselves while this part of the line, which had been paid 

 out in excess of the depth, rested upon the bottom, not at all cal- 

 culating what an upward journey their investigations would cost 

 them, and what a greeting they would receive. They continued to 

 move freely about for a quarter of an hour after their introduction 

 into human society, and from the naturalist and his wondering 



* " Not es on the Presence of Animal Life at Vast Depths in the Sea ; with 

 Observations on the Nature of the Sea-bed as bearing on Submarine Telegraphy." 

 Ry 0. C. Wallieh, M.D., F.L.S., &c. ; naturalist to the expedition despatched in 

 L860, under the command of Sir Leopold M'Clintock, to survey the proposed 

 North A t lam io 1 olograph route between Great Britain and America. I860. 



