908 
THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
“A new species of Sternaspis, Echiurus unicinctus, v. Drasche, two species of Thcilas- 
sema, one new, a new Bonellia, four new and four previously known species of Phascolo- 
soma, Dendrostoma blandum, Selenka and de Man, two previously known and three new 
species of Phctscolion, two species of the genus Aspidosiphon, one of which is new, 
only two known species of Phymosoma and two of the genus Sipunculus. There w T ere 
several forms which it was impossible to determine with certainty, and which wall there- 
fore not be described, for they had been much damaged by the dredge ; and another 
form, described as a new genus in the notes of the late Dr. v. Willemoes Sulim, must also 
be excluded from the descriptions, since the single specimen was quite torn to pieces. 
“ The Gephyrea of the Challenger Expedition form an interesting contribution to 
our knowledge of the geographical distribution of this group ; a variety of Phascolosoma 
vulgare, Blv., hitherto known only from the Mediterranean and the west coast 
of France, was discovered by H.M.S. ‘Porcupine’ to the north of Scotland (I have 
named it Phascolosoma vulgare, var. astutum ) ; and the Challenger found a similarly 
varying form near Kerguelen Island at a depth of 120 fathoms. A new species of 
this genus (' Phascolosoma flcigriferum ) was dredged in the Pacific Ocean and also off the 
east coast of North America ; while several Sipunculids, which have hitherto been 
known only from shallow water, were obtained from great depths ; such was the case, 
for instance, with Sipunculus nudus, Linn.” 
Monte Video to Ascension. 
On the 25th February, at 5 a.m., the vessel left Monte Video for the island of Ascension. 
A course was shaped first of all for the Tristan da Cunha group, as it was desirable to run a 
section from Monte Video along the 36th or 37th parallel to those islands to join 
the section from them to the Cape of Good Hope, after which a meridional section from 
Tristan da Cunha to Ascension was obtained. In leaving the Rio de la Plata two hauls 
of the trawl were obtained in 13 and 21 fathoms. The deposits were a blue tenacious 
mud containing large fragments of Molluscs and plants, and many sandy particles. The 
trawls contained a large number of Renilla mulleri, with Crustaceans, Nemerteans, 
Annelids, Cephalopods, Molluscs, and a large number of fish, among which were five 
hitherto undescribed species. 
During the passage the wind was at first light and variable to the meridian of 42° W., 
with the exception of one day when for a few hours a strong S.W. wind was experienced, 
after which moderately fresh winds from N. to W. were encountered to the meridian of 
15° W. Turning up north towards Ascension, a fresh westerly breeze was experienced, 
which shifted round S. to S.E. and ran the ship into the trade wind, the direction of 
which was E. to E. by S. The weather on the whole was fine though somewhat cloudy ; 
lightning was common until the vessel was east of the 42nd meridian. 
