84 January 1854 Coral Sea at good hauls of the dredge, and got a variety of objects of interest. There were dead corals of Meandrina and Astrea, and living Gorgonidporo several small but interesting worms two or three crustaceans and a large number of shells, but few of which however were living. There were 12 species of Bivalves and 105 of Univalves. A Comatula, Ophiolopis, and a few polypes made some representation of the Radiata. The bottom was a coarse shell and Coral sand, with a few branching mullepires and occasional large fragments of coral, upon which grew a few algae, among which a green reticulated species was most prominent. In the afternoon it fell nearly Calm. 21st S.Lat 19°58' E. Lon 160°36' Nearly Calm. 22nd S.Lat 19°50 E. Lon: 161°21' Wind N. No. 3 kn. Sunday In the morning we noticed masses of a greenish vegetable scum floating on the water On placing a portion of this under the Microscope I observed among it Conferva like tubes, and other organisms of which I made a sketeh which see. 23rd S.Lat 19°31' E. Lon 162°07 Wind N.E. No. 6 kn. We have for some time been keeping the lead going almost constantly, especially. The patent-lead, which indicates the depths by the pressure of the water acting upon a cork floating in a graduated tube, is used, and with remarkably accurate results... At midnight as the Chains were manned to set a cast a man fell overboard, but saved himself by cluding to the part of the line which he had in hand. 24th S. Lat 18°24' E. Lon 162°05' Wind N.E. No. 5 kn. The sun is now vertical, and we are having a continual succession of squalls of rain, calms, and light winds, while the weather is excessively hot. 25th S.Lat 18°02' E. Lon 162°45' Wind N.E. No. 4 kn. In the afternoon, near Sundown, as we were steering with the ship's head to the West ward, we suddenly found ourselves on a shoal ridge - the depths could not have been more than 8 fathoms, but before we could get a sounding we were over 85