DAILY SOUNDINGS AND TEA WLINGS. 
37 
observations as to depth, temperature, and nature of 
the bottom. These stoppages were about 100 miles 
apart, and each day, when the weather permitted, 
soundings and dredgings took place. For the first 
250 miles the bottom of the ocean was found to be 
nearly level at a depth of about 2000 fathoms, con- 
sisting, for the most part, of the Grlobigerina ooze of 
the Atlantic. On proceeding some 50 miles farther to 
the westward, we sounded in 1500 fathoms, identically 
on the top of a ridge, where, after dredging for some 
time, a quantity of dead, hard, white coral, together 
with several beautiful specimens of sponge attached 
to its branches, was obtained. From this position 
soundings made the next day showed that the 
bottom sank rapidly until reaching a depth of 
2700 and 2950 fathoms, from the first of which 
a few living specimens of starfish, annelids, &c., 
were obtained in the dredge ; but the most re- 
markable fact was that with the increasing depth 
there was a gradual change in the character of the 
bottom. 
On the 26th February, in latitude 23° 23' north, 
longitude 35° 10' west, being about 1600 miles from 
Sombrero Island, we sounded in 3150 fathoms. This 
was the greatest depth as yet met with, the ma- 
terial obtained from the bottom being quite new to 
science. For several days after, the dredge con- 
tinued to bring up a dark chocolate or red clay, 
scarcely containing a trace of organic matter, and 
