No.-Dec. 1854 Lo Choo. my seine, it being the only place in which this was practicable. I caught however but few fishes, all of which were small. I was rather surprised to find among them some flying-fish—where proper habitat is the open sea. I caught no fish whatever with the hook and line, not being able to find a good locality. Dredging was equally unsuccessful. As is usual in tropical or sub-tropical countries the sandy or muddy bottoms in depths exceeding two fathoms are almost barren of marine animals. Wherever there is coral, the marine fauna seems always to be almost entirely concentrated upon it, and while its groves afford a rich field, but little can be found on the other stations of the locality. In Zoology, Lo Choo may be said to be chiefly distinguished for the number and variety of its shells. We obtained nearly 400 species during the time of our stay. It should be mentioned however, that but few of these were obtained alive, as our chief collecting ground was the No.-Dec. 1854 Lo Choo. beach which extends for several miles northward from Lume. Here we might have spent many days in active search without exhausting its riches, for after the larger and more beautiful species were collected, there remained a host of minute shells, mostly valuable only to the systematic Conchologist, which really seemed interminable in number, for each handful of coral sand would afford a new form. The search of this beach afforded an unfailing resource, whenever the other objects of an collecting excursions proved unattainable. The living shells with a considerable variety of other marine animals were obtained chiefly on the outer reefs, which run parallel to the shore, at the distance of a mile or more. To these reefs several of us (Messrs Carter, Wright, Barron & myself) were in the habit of repairing during spring-tides, which come low here always early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Considerable rivalry was shown in the search, and the finding of a beautiful shell was the