on board Mr. Milne Edwards and the scientific commission that had been
appointed by the Minister of Public Instruction. The Talisman explored
the coasts of Portugal and Morocco, visited the Canary and Cape Verd
Islands, traversed the Sea of Sargasso, and, after a stay of some time
at the Azores, returned to France, after exploring on its way the Gulf
of Gascogne (Fig.).

[Illustration: FIG.1.--CHART OF THE TALISMAN'S VOYAGE.]

The magnificent collections in natural history that were collected
on this cruise, and during those of preceding years made by the
Travailleur, are, in a few days, to be exhibited at the Museum of
Natural History. We think we shall be doing a service to the readers of
this journal, in giving them some details as to the organization of the
Talisman expedition as well as to the manner in which the dredgings were
performed.

[Illustration: FIG.2.--PLAN OF THE VESSEL.]

The vessel, as shown by her plan in Fig. 2, had to undergo important
alterations for the cruise that she was to undertake. Her deck was
almost completely freed from artillery, since this would have encumbered
her too much. Immediately behind the bridge, in the center of the
vessel, there were placed two windlasses, one, A, to the right, and the
other, B, to the left (Fig. 2). These machines, whose mode of operation
will be explained further along, were to serve for raising and lowering
the fishing apparatus. A little further back there were constructed
two cabins, G and HH. The first of these was designed to serve as a
laboratory, and the second was arranged as quarters for the members of
the mission.