Some Life of the Deep Sea. 
Natural History Observations During the First 
Cruise of the "Galilee” in the Magnetic 
Survey of the Pacific Ocean.* 
BY DR. J. HOBART EGBERT, SURGEON AND NATURALIST 
OF THE EXPEDITION. 
Concluded from page 853. 
Throughout the cruise the flying fishes en¬ 
countered were carefully observed with a view 
to obtaining additional information concerning 
the power and manner of flight of these creat¬ 
ures, and, to his own mind at least, the writer’s 
belief—we might almost term it certain knowl¬ 
edge—in the power of independent winged flight 
among the Exoccctidcc, was greatly augmented. 
Quoting from my note book under date of Oct. 
28: “Have this morning been watching the fly¬ 
ing-fishes, as usual endeavoring to conclusively 
demonstrate their method in sustaining them¬ 
selves in the air and the limits to their power 
of flight. A moderate breeze is blowing from 
the northeast and 1 have seen large shoals of 
them rise from the water and scatter in all direc¬ 
tions—many traveling for long distances—some 
flying with the wind, others against it, and all 
making good progress and keeping up the pace 
in all directions. From the forecastle head the 
vertical (‘flapping’) motion of the pectoral fins 
was again and again plainly observed, as in¬ 
dividuals of the larger species of Exoccctidcc 
broke water almost under the vessel’s bow. This 
flapping motion of the fin-wings was particularly 
observable upon the emergence from the water, 
and was again noted by different observers, to¬ 
gether with myself, on an occasion when a shoal 
of fishes of the larger type being pursued by 
‘dolphins’ were seen to resume their flight in 
the air by this broad, flapping motion of the 
pectoral fins, when apparently about to return 
to the water at a place to which their enemies 
had already preceded them.” 
By no means the greatest number of flying- 
fishes were encountered in the immediate vicinity 
of the Equator. In cruising southward the 
Equator was crossed in longitude 161 0 37' W. 
(Oct. 16), and, returning northward, re-crossed 
in longitude 164° oS' W. (Oct. 18), and in both 
regions flying-fishes were found to be compara¬ 
tively scarce. The few observed were all of 
small size and sustained themselves in the air 
but short distances. Numerous flying-fishes, 
however, were encountered between 12 0 and 20° 
N. latitude. The temperature of the surface 
water was not highest at the Equator, but in 
latitude between 5 0 30' N. and 6° 30' N.—mean 
longitude 153° 43' W.—where the water tempera 
ture throughout the twenty-four hours was 29.2° 
C., and between latitude 6° and 7 0 N., in longi¬ 
tude 163° 30' W., where the average water tem¬ 
perature for the twenty-four hours reached 29.3° 
C. At the Equator the temperature of the sur¬ 
face water was 28.0° C. 
No Physalicc were observed in the near vicinity 
‘Published by permission of the Director. Department 
of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Wash¬ 
ington, D. C. 
of the Equator, though a number of small in¬ 
dividuals, since identified as immature Physalia 
utriculus Esch., were met with in the equatorial 
current north of the Equator. Numerous speci¬ 
mens of the small “sun-dial” Medusa (Velella 
pacifica Esch.), were secured north of 40° N. 
latitude. During the voyage from San Diego to 
Honolulu a number of the pretty little Hydro 
medusae, Porpita pacifica Lesson, were met with 
during calm weather and specimens secured. 
Nov. 25, when in latitude 41° 06' N. and longi¬ 
tude 150° 40' W., the weather being clear, cloud¬ 
less and calm, and the sea smooth, specimens 
of the following invertebrate forms were secured 
from the surface: Corolla spcctabilis Dali, Cavo- 
linia pacifica Dali, Ianthina striatula Cpr. and 
Velella pacifica Esch. Both the Corolla and the 
Cavolinia were industriously swimming along 
near the surface, while the Ianthinadce (“violet 
snails”) were floated along the surface by means 
THE GALILEE AT SAN DIEGO, CAL. 
of their peculiar egg-floats, which were attached 
to all the specimens obtained. Shells of the fol¬ 
lowing mollusks from Washington Island were 
also obtained during the cruise: Cyprcca 
arancosa Gray, Cyprcca caput-serpentis L., 
Cyprcca maculata Roe. On Fanning Island a 
carapace of the brilliant coral crab, Carpilius 
maculatus Linn., was obtained. 
A number of specimens of pelagic Hemiptera 
—most interesting amphibious insects—were col¬ 
lected from various parts of the Pacific during 
the cruise. There were also obtained Lysicerich- 
thus of Lysioquilla maculata (Fabricius) Miers, 
Gonatus fabricii Licht (Stp.), and unidentified 
species of Exoccetidcc, Remorcc and Carcharidce. 
The only mammal secured was a specimen of 
Delphinus ( delphis?) obtained near the Equator 
in latitude 2° 15' N., longitude 159° 25' W. The 
head of this porpoise was preserved and meas¬ 
urements made and photographs taken. Some 
of the flesh was eaten. About five miles south 
of the Equator, longitude 161 0 45' W., and on 
the day following the capture of the long-nose 
porpoise just mentioned, a large school of dol¬ 
phins with large rounded heads and no apparent 
projecting snouts, came alongside the vessel. 
Effort was made to secure a specimen with the 
harpoon, but by an unfortunate throw one was 
slightly wounded, when they all quickly disap¬ 
peared. They were notably larger than the long- 
nose porpoises of the previous day, though 
closely resembling them in actions. 
In conclusion, I quote from my note book the 
following entries, made during the latter portion 
of the cruise when approaching and sailing 
among the islands off the coast of Southern Cali¬ 
fornia : 
“Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1905.—For the past three 
nights, from latitude 35 0 30' N., longitifde 127 0 
00' W. to latitude 34° 00' N. and longitude 123 0 
45' W., there have been observed large phos¬ 
phorescent bodies about the ship, especially in 
the wake, where they have been excited to lumi¬ 
nosity by the passing of the ship over them. The 
weather has been cold, but quite clear, and the 
sea quite smooth. The wind has varied from 
calm to light, more or less variable breezes, 
though usually westerly to northwest. There 
has been a dearth of the usual phosphorescence 
from Noctiluccc, etc., but these large glowing 
bodies have been very conspicuous. Last night, 
about midnight, they were particularly numer¬ 
ous, and a number were scooped up by means 
of a long-handled net. They proved to be Pyro- 
sotna of the species Giganteum Less. These 
curious animals are remarkable for their phos¬ 
phorescence. Even when held in the hand they 
are, for a short time after taken from the water, 
remarkably luminous. In the water, when not 
glowing, they are practically invisible—like a sub¬ 
merged piece of clear ice—though the specimens 
left in a bucket of sea water for a few hours 
developed a reddish-brown tinge which deepened 
considerably after they were placed in formalin 
solution. Specimens secured varied from five 
to seven and one-half inches in length, with a 
maximum diameter of from three-quarters to 
one and one-quarter inches. 
“Dec. 7.—Between the islands San Nicolas and 
San Clemente. Near midnight. Thousands of 
Pyrosoma visible to-night. The wind is freshen¬ 
ing, and as the surface of the sea becomes more 
disturbed it also becomes more highly luminous 
from the presence of these innumerable phos¬ 
phorescent bodies.” 
Hungarian Partridge in California. 
The last consignment of Hungarian partridges 
reached California on May 9. This consisted 
of thirty pairs, bringing the total for the season 
up to 200 pairs. The birds have been distributed 
in Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mendocino, 
Santa Cruz, Sacramento, Marin, San Bernardino, 
Ventura, Napa, Kern, Fresno, Humboldt, Sierra, 
El Dorado and Los Angeles counties. 
THE CAMPER’S FRIEND. 
Pure Milk is desirable wherever you camp. 
Borden’s Eagle Brand Condensed Milk always 
opens up perfectly fresh, pure and satisfactory. 
It is the first item thought of by the veteran 
camper.— Adv. 
