Carbonic Acid to Oxygen in bottom-water was found to bear a much closer relation to the abundance of Animal life (especially of the more elevated types), as shown by the Dredge, than to its depth. This was very strikingly shown in an instance in which analyses were made of the gases contained in samples of water collected at every 50 fathoms, from 400 fathoms to the bottom at 862 fathoms, the percentage results being as follows: The extraordinarily augmented percentage of Carbonic Acid in the stratum of water here immediately overlying the Sea-bed was accompanied by a great abundance of Animal life. On the other hand, the lowest percentage of Carbonic Acid found in bottom-water-viz. 7.9-was accompanied by a "very bad haul." In several cases in which the depths were nearly the same, the analyst ventured a prediction as to the abundance, or otherwise, of Animal life, from the proportion of Carbonic Acid in the bottom-water; and his prediction proved in every instance correct. It would appear, therefore, that the increase in the proportion of Carbonic Acid, and the diminution in that of the Oxygen, in the abyssal waters of the Ocean, is due to the Respiratory process, which is no less a necessary condition of the existence of Animal life on the sea-bed, than is the presence of food-material for its sustenance. And it is further obvious that the continued consumption of Oxygen and liberation of Carbonic Acid would soon render the stratum of water immediately above the bottom completely irrespirable-in the absence of any antagonistic process of Vegetation-were it not for the upward diffusion of the Carbonic Acid through the intermediate waters to the surface, and the downward diffusion of Oxygen from the surface to the depths below. A continual interchange will take place at the surface between the gases of the Sea-water and those of the Atmosphere; and thus the Respiration of the Abyssal Fauna is provided for by a process of diffusion, which may have to operate through three miles or more of intervening water. The varying proportions of Carbonic Acid and Oxygen in the surface-waters are doubtless to be accounted for in part by the differences in the amount and character of the Animal life existing beneath; but a comparison of the results of the analyses made during the agitation of the surface by wind, with those made in calm weather, showed so decided a reduction in the proportion of Carbonic Acid, with an increase in that of Oxygen, under the former condition, as almost unequivocally to indicate that superficial disturbance of the Sea by Atmospheric movement is absolutely necessary for its purification from the noxious effects of Animal decomposition. Of this view a most unexpected and remarkable confirmation has been afforded by the following circumstance :-In one of the analyses of surface-water made during the Second cruise, the percentage of Carbonic Acid fell as low as 3.3, while that of Oxygen rose as high as 37 1; and in a like analysis made during the Third cruise, the percentage of Carbonic Acid was 5.6, while that of Oxygen was 45.3. As the results of every other analysis of surface-water were in marked contrast to these, it became a question whether they should not be thrown out as erroneous; until it was recollected that, whilst the samples of surface-water had been generally taken up from the bow of the vessel, they had been drawn in these two instances from abaft the paddles, and had thus been subjected to such a violent agitation in contact with the Atmosphere, as would pre-eminently favour their thorough aëration. Hence, then, it may be affirmed that every disturbance of the Oceansurface by Atmospheric movement, from the gentlest ripple to the most tremendous storm-wave, contributes, in proportion to its amount, to the maintenance of Animal life in its Abyssal depths-doing, in fact, for the aëration of the fluids of their inhabitants, just what is done by the heaving and falling of the walls of our own chest for the aëration of the blood which courses through our lungs. A perpetual calm would be as fatal to their continued existence, as the forcible stoppage of all Respiratory movement would be to our own. And thus universal stagnation would become universal death. Thus it has been shown that the Bed of the Deep Sea, even in the immediate neighbourhood of our own shores, is an area of which the conditions have until lately been as completely unknown as those of the ice-bound regions of the Poles, or of the densest forests, the most arid deserts, the most inaccessible mountain-summits, that lie between the Tropics; and further, that by the systematic employment of the Sounding-apparatus, the Thermometer, and the Dredge, almost as complete a knowledge can be gained of those conditions, as if the explorer could himself visit the abyssal depths he desires to examine. Of the important discoveries in almost every department of Science, but more particularly in what Mr. Kingsley has well termed BioGeology, which may be anticipated from the continuation and extension of an inquiry of which the mere commencement has yielded such an abundant harvest, the speaker felt it scarcely possible to form too high an expectation. And, in conclusion, he referred to the systematic and energetic prosecution of Deep-sea explorations by the United States Coast Survey and by the Swedish Government-the results of which prove to be singularly accordant with those now briefly expounded, as showing that other Maritime powers are strongly interested in the subject; and expressed the earnest hope that the liberal assistance of H.M. Government, which has already enabled British Naturalists to obtain the lead in this inquiry, would be so continued as to enable them to keep it in the future. In particular, he called attention to the suggestion lately thrown out by M. Alex. Agassiz, that an arrangement might be made by our own Admiralty with the Naval authorities of the United States; by which a thorough survey, Physical and Biological, of the North Atlantic should be divided between the two countries; so that British and American explorers, prosecuting in a spirit of generous rivalry labours most important to the Science of the Future, might meet and shake hands on the Mid-Ocean. [W. B. C.] TABLE I-TEMPERATURE of the SEA at DIFFERENT DEPTHS in the CHANNEL between the NORTH of SCOTLAND, the SHETLAND ISLES, and the FAROE ISLANDS; as ascertained by Serial and by Bottom SOUNDINGS. (N.B. The Roman Numerals indicate the Lightning' Temperature-Soundings, corrected for pressure.) TABLE II.-TEMPERATURE of the SEA at DIFFERENT DEPTHS near the WESTERN MARGIN of the NORTH ATLANTIC BASIN, as ascertained by Serial and by Bottom SOUNDINGS. SERIAL SOUNDINGS. BOTTOM SOUNDINGS. Tempe Tempe Tempe Tempe Tempe Tempe Tempe- rature. rature. Ser. 20. Ser. 21. rature. Ser. 38. No. Depth. Tempe Tempe rature. rature. WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, Friday, February 18, 1870. SIR HENRY HOLLAND, Bart. M.D. D.C.L. F.R.S. President, WILLIAM KINGDON CLIFFORD, Esq. B.A. On Theories of the Physical Forces. WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, SIR HENRY HOLLAND, Bart. M.D. D.C.L. F.R.S. President, CAPTAIN CHARLES W. WILSON, R.E. On the Ordnance Survey of Sinai. THE project of a systematic Survey of the Peninsula of Mount Sinai, with special reference to the Mosaic record of the Exodus, owes its origin to the Rev. Pierce Butler, late Rector of Ulcombe, Kent, who, unfortunately, was not spared to assist in carrying out a work for which he was so eminently qualified. After Mr. Butler's death it was felt by his friends and others whom he had interested in the scheme, that the best tribute to his memory would be the prosecution of the work which he had so much at heart, and for this purpose a fund was raised, of which Sir Roderick Murchison, Bart., Sir John Herschel, Bart., and Col. Sir Henry James, R.E., kindly consented to become Trustees. The sanction of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for War was obtained, and the Survey was carried out under the direction of Col. Sir H. James, R.E., Director-General of the Ordnance Survey. The Expedition consisted of Captains Wilson and Palmer, of the Royal Engineers; the Rev. F. W. Holland, who had already paid three visits to the Peninsula, and spent many months wandering over it on foot; Mr. E. H. Palmer, Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, a gentleman well known for his extensive knowledge of Eastern languages; Mr. Wyatt, who, at his own expense, accompanied the party as Naturalist; and four non-commissioned officers of the Royal Engineers from the Ordnance Survey,-one, Sergt.-Major McDonald, an experienced Photographer, who had previously been employed on the Ordnance Survey of Jerusalem. |