ZOOLOGICAL EESEAECHES 57 
in the several articles a great deal that interests me very 
much, especially in the subject of the geographical distri- 
bution of the various orders and genera so graphically and 
scientifically treated. . . . 
I well remember the deep sea Pycnogon which we dredged 
up in the Erebus, especially the Amnothea communis, which 
astonished the crew. It is much to be desired that zoologists 
would follow the example of most botanists in giving the 
geographical range of the species they deal with. 
From the moment of starting down Channel the naturalist's 
eye is alert, whether it be that a wren is observed seven miles 
out at sea, or sea-water examined for the microscopic cause of 
its luminosity at night, or the activity of the young of a small 
crab from the Antilles, harbouring in their thousands on a 
piece of driftwood, swimming with the last five abdominal 
segments that in adults are turned in upon the thorax. 
Even after Madeira and the Cape de Verdes had furnished 
some botanical material to work upon, this did not fill up his 
time, and botany took second place after general naturaHst's 
work. 
To his Father 
March 17, 1840. 
Since leaving St. Helena, my time has been employed 
exactly as before ; the net is constantly overboard, and 
catching enough to keep me three-quarters of the day 
employed drawing ; the dissections of the httle marine ani- 
mals generally take some time, as they are almost universally 
microscopic. Though I never intend to make anything but 
Botany a study, I do not think I can do better than I am 
doing ; it gives me a facihty in drawing which I feel comes 
much much easier to me ; it pleases the Captain beyond any- 
thing to see me at work, and, further, it is a new field which 
none but an artist can prosecute at sea ; the extent of this 
branch of Natural History is quite astonishing, the number 
of species of httle winged and footed shells provided with 
wings, sails, bladders or swimmers appears marvellous. The 
causes of the luminousness of the sea I refer entirely to 
animals (hving). I never yet saw the water flash without 
