Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-30

biological achievement OF the record
reign. and il is no disparagement 10 us
rlustTious expounders-Darwin and wal
lace-to say that il was only through
the unwearled labors OF workers in other
branches Of biology, during and previous
10 the early part Of the reign, that II was
possible for them 10 have weaved the
scattered facts and observations into one
harmonious fabric.
Although Darwin's name Is, In popular
estimation. more intimately connected
with the doctrine OF evolution, that OF
Mr. Wallace Chappily stiil among us) has
obtained a well-desorved fame in connec-
ton with the geographical distribution
OF animals. a branch of biological science
which may be said to be almost an eX-
elusive product Of the Victorian era. III
was i'm 1885. two years only before the ac-
cession. that Swanson published MS
Geography and Classification OF Ami
mails" and from that date till the APP
pearance Of Wallace's Geographical Dis
tribution Of Animals" in 1875, this branch
of science was being gradually evolved
and perfected. Indeed, both on this ana
the other side Of the Atlantic this In
teresting and important study is still en-
ploying the energies Of several workers.
although it would be obviously inappro-
the labors Of living writer's Evolution
and geographical distribution may be re-
garded as sister branches of geology, as
neither could exist without the other,
and il Is difficult TO say which is most
indebted to it's fellow.
From the subject of the geographical
distribution of animals and plants there
is gradual and imperceptible transit
ton to the study of the changes In the
relative distribution Of land and water
which have taken place on the surface
of the globe during the later ages OF It's
existence. And although this Is III
reality a geological rather than biologl-
cal problem, It is one intimately con-
nected with the fauna Of the ocean
abysses. The interesting results op-
tanned by the dredging cruises or H. NJ
ships Porcupine and Lightning, IN the
summer Of 1868, 1862 and 1870, led TO the
dispatch on December q, 1872 or IL. NJ
S. Challenger, on heightened dredglhs
and exploring voyage, which was brought
TO n successful termination ON May
q 1876 on the evening of which day
the corvette anchored at Spithead. The
results Of this cruise revolutionized pre-
yious ideas as to the nature or the
ocean-bed and the fauna Of its aDyssal
depths. while a vast store OF intorma-
ton was acquired with regard to pelagic
creatures of all kinds. During the
VOYAGE the art of deep-sea dredging and
sounding was brought nearly to its pre-
sent perfection. This and other cruises
made during the reign have brought to
our knowledge the luminous fishes In
habiting the dark ocean abysses, and
they have also revealed the fact that
creatures, like the sea-lilies. long sup
posed TO be practically extinct are stlli
abundant at suitable depths in the ocean.
The publication Of the scientific results
of the Challenger's cruise commenced
in $780, and has only recently been COM
pleted.
Deep-sea dredging IS closely connect
ed with the establishment Of marine
biological stations. and the preservation
and breeding Of food-fshes and OYSTER
beds. These two are exclusively a pro-
duct of the reign, and their importance
from both q biological and an economic
cal point of view can scarcely be over
rated. Frank auckland, I'm the first
place and Huxley, in the second, have
I'm this department we'll shown how men
Of the highest scientific attainments can
combine the pursuit Of their own par
ticular studies with others yielding untold
advantage to our fisheries.
An equally close connection exists be-
tween deep-sea dredging and the study
Of the growth of coral islands and coral
reefs, subject entering upon the do
main of both zoology and geology This,
too, IS a subject whose development has
taken place during the Victorian era,
Darwin's well-known volume having APP
peared in 1851, while Dana's "Corals and
Coral Islands" was published in 1915.
That the last word has not been said in
regard TO the growth Of coral islands IS
proved by the recent partially unsuc-
cessful boring expedition to the Barrier
Reef. Of Australia, under the superin-
tendence of Professor Sollas. TO the
older biologists it would, doubtless, como
as a severe shock to learn that our mas