illv
not fewer than sixty species of different groups were
recoA'ered, including a very handsome Pennatulid
between two and three feet in height, some deep-sea
corals of very special interest, and some fine
echinoderms and sponges. On the 15th we anchored
in Monte Video Roads.
AVe left the anchorage of Monte Video at dayhreak
on the 25th of Pehruary, and after swinging ship
for errors of the compasses Ave proceeded down the
estuary. In the afternoon the traAvl Avas p u t over
in thirteen fathoms to get an idea of the fauna of
the hrackish water. The species procured Avere
comparatively feAV, b u t among them Avas a plentiful
supply of an interesting alcyonarian of the genus
Benilla, Avhich, althongh Avell knoAvn, had not heen
met Avith by us before. On tbe tAVO folloAving days
Ave crossed the shallow-Avater plateau, and on the
28th we sounded and traAA'led in 1,900 fathoms, over
the ledge. The serial temperature-sounding gave
a hottom-temperature of 0°-0C.; at 1,725 the temperature
Avas 1°-0C., at 600 fathoms 3°‘0 C., and at
50 fathoms 20°-0 C. The trawl Avas not very successful,
hut it brought up a few things of some
interest, among them an example of a small sea-
urchin [Aceste ItelUdifera), of Avhich we had previously
taken single specimens at Avidely different stations,
off the coast of Nova Scotia, near Gomera Island,
near Ncav Zealand, and near Japan. The bottom
Avas chiefly river-mud, Avith very little carbonate
of lime.
On th e fo llow in g d ay Ave so u n d e d in 2,800 fa th om s
an d ao-ain loAvered th e traAvl.O The h o ttom w as a
greyish mud AA'ith little or no carbonate of lime.