count last published, referred to at the commencement, is given by Dr. Wright of the P. and O. steamer Lady Mary Wood. This gentleman, when on board the Shooting Star, from New York to Hong Kong, met, a little after dark on the 27th of July, 1854, with a sea of milk in lat. 11° 27', long. 105° 40, or in the opening of the China Seas. It resembled in most particulars those already described; it extended over an area of thirteen miles in diameter, a second patch covering one of about ten miles. In all these cases buckets of sea water had been taken up and examined, and in none was any indication afforded of difference of gravity or temperature from that prevailing in the surrounding ocean. In most of them small hair like animalcules were discernible by the naked eye: in some cases in a state of activity, but most generally in repose. In that examined in May, 1840, a microscope luckily was employed, when the hair-like appearance, under a very moderate power, showed like a string of beads, and was in all likelihood spawn. The phenomenon, though frequently observed, is nearly as ill understood as it is striking and, in some cases, magnificent. It is obvious that it is met with most frequently near the point where the lines opening to the Gulf of Aden and the Persian Gulf cross each other, for the most part to the northward of the former of these. We do not know whether or not they be more prevalent at one period of the year than at another; and, although earlier accounts assume it to be peculiar to the South-West monsoon, the notices of it we have given refer almost equally to it at all periods of the year. It would be in the last degree interesting to know if there were any particular coral or other zoophitic beds in the bottom of the ocean under or near the spots where the water is chiefly discoloured, or, in short, to what circumstance we are to ascribe the fact of its being so much more prevalent at one place than at another. It is a circumstance worthy of note, that although for seventeen years we have constantly had from half a dozen to a dozen medical men on board our Red Sea or Persian Gulf steamers, navigating some of the most interesting seas and bays on the earth's surface, that Dr. Carter is the only one of them who has ever published a single line in reference to the wonders of the great deep or its shores. In this case the excuse of want of time, urged for not making meteorological observations on shore, is of no avail. The medical men afloat, for the bulk of the day seem really not to know what to do with themselves, and, on an average, less than an hour a day suffices for the discharge of all their medical duties. When the packet service was in the hands of the Indian Navy, the chief occupation of the Doctor seemed to be to play chess or backgammon with the passengers. These phenomena afford one illustration more of how much of the traditions of superstition, deemed purely fabulous, may have been founded on fact, and been merely mistaken solutions of phenomena simple and natural. The showers of blood,-the armies seen fighting in the air,-the images of divinities, supposed to have fallen from heaven,-are now known to be exhibitions of red rain, of the aurora borealis, of the descent of meteoric stones. What more natural than that Hindoos on ship board, finding such things as we have described in unknown regions at the extreme verge of the voyage, should describe them as seas of milk? It might naturally occur to them to associate this with butter or with ghee, and add the latter of these as an adjunct to their creed. In reality, the nilky appearance manifest at night is often exchanged during the day for the semblance of a sheet of oil or melted butter,— and such is described to have been the aspect of that witnessed in the Arabian Sea in May, 1840. [Accounts of these appearances extend far earlier than 1840.--ED] THE MARINE ARTIFICIAL HORIZON. The following observations with the Pendulum Marine Artificial Horizon of Capt. A. B. Becher, R.N., were made on board H.M.S. Fairy, in November, 1839, in Harwich Harbour, at anchor; the correction of the instrument being, 9′ 39′′; sextant, Carey's, Strand. Two meridian altitudes of the Moon's lower limb for the latitude of the anchorage observed with the aid of the lamp. It will be thus seen that the latitude of an anchorage at night, may be obtained by means of this instrument attached to a sextant without landing anywhere from the ship, an advantage which on many occasions would be most desirable. NEW AND CORRECTED CHARTS, &C. Published by the Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, and Sold by J. D. Potter, 31, Poultry, and 11, King Street, Tower Hill. English Channel Pilot, part 1, edited by J. W. King, Master R.N., North Polar Sea, various authorities, 1855 Black Sea, Gulf of Pyrgos or Burghez, Captain Spratt, R.N., C.B., 1854 Australia, Torres Strait, sheet 2, North-East and Eastern Entrances, 3 0 3 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 4 6 Papua or New Guinea, South Coast, Bampton Island to Aird River, New Zealand Islands, General Chart, Captain J. L. Stokes, R.N., and EDWARD DUNSTERVILLE, Commander, R.N. Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, 24th March, 1856. THE GREAT AND LITTLE SKELLIGS, WEST COAST OF IRELAND,-By Commander W. H. Church, R.N., Surveyor. The passage between the Puffin Island (which is just detached from the mainland) and the Lemon Rock-two miles wide-is quite safe, with a depth of 32 to 39 fathoms. The passage between the Lemon Rock and the inner or Little Skellig (two miles wide) is also safe, with a general depth of 30 to 39 fathoms; and the passage between the two Skelligs (a short mile wide) is likewise safe, with from 32 to 42 fathoms. These rocks may be passed in fine weather, at the distance of two cables' length, in deep water, except the Great Skellig, on its S.W. side, where it has, outlying three cables W.S.W. from its S. W. point, a detached reef-Washerwoman Rock; the highest part of which is about five feet above high water, and always may be seen. Between it and the S.W. point of the Skellig is a passage nearly two cables wide, with from 7 to 20 fathoms water; and at two cables outside the rock to the westward are 26 fathoms. There are two other rocks outlying from North side of Great Skellig, but not exceeding the distance of half a cable. The Lemon rock is a small mass of dark schist, 300 feet long, East and West, and 200 broad, North and South, the highest part being 70 feet above high water. There are four small reefs just detached from its West end, to the distance of 100 feet; and S.E., to the distance of 300 feet, is a small detached reef which covers at high water. NO. 5.-VOL. XXV. 2 G The Little Skellig is 2,400 feet long, East and West, and 1,100 broad. Its configuration is very irregular, with deep indentations. The highest pinnacle near its centre is 430 feet high, and is surrounded by sharp spires of lesser altitude. The East end of the rock is somewhat narrow; and the West end forms in two high semidetached obelisks, the bases of which run out in sharp prongs to the West. There are no outlying dangers at any great distance, except a rock off South side at less than half a cable. It is the breeding place and roost of numerous sea-fowl-gannets, gulls, puffins, peterels, &c., and the most southern abode of the gannet on the West coast of Ireland. A man on the mainland pays £1 per annum rent to the owner, Mr. Chas. O'Connell, for the pasture on the rock, and keeps half a dozen sheep on it. The Great Skellig Rock is 2,700 feet long, S.W. and N.E., and about 1,600 feet broad; the summit of the highest pinnacle, called the Needle's Eye, is 704 feet above the sea. It is deeply indented in its coastline with coves, and is inaccessible from the sea except in three places, where the Dublin Ballast Office has excavated steps through the steep precipitous rock: one in the Blue Cove on North side, one near Cross Cove on South side, and the third in Blindman Cove at East end, under shelter of the long projecting N.E. point. This last is the best and principal landing place, and a well constructed road, defended by a wall of solid masonry, ascends from it in a gentle inclination along the South side to the lower lighthouse, which is situated on the S. W. point of the rock. The two other landing places are used, according to which may be the lee side, when easterly winds throw too much sea into Blindman Cove; but they are both much more difficult to ascend from, more especially that at North side. From the lower lighthouse a zigzag wall, defended by a solid wall, ascends to the upper lighthouse at the western end of the rock. The latter bears from the former N.3 W., magnetic, distant 800 feet, the lantern of lower light being 175 feet above high water, of the upper light 372 feet. These lighthouse establishments appear to be in excellent order, and everything well conducted about them. There are two light-keepers, a principal and an assistant, attached to each; and the people of one establishment are quite independent of control by, or responsibility to the other-each being separately accountable to the Ballast Office at Dublin. The names of lower light-keepers are Nolan and Moore, and of the upper Gregory and Redmond; the lastmentioned has been seventeen years on the rock without visiting the mainland, and says he has no desire whatever to do so. There are twenty people altogether on the Skellig,-five men, twelve women, and three children,-all belonging to the establishments of the lightkeepers. The high eastern part of the rock contains the remains of a monastic establishment of the early Christian ages. There is a walled enclosure on it, solid and unbroken (though originally of dry masonry without any cement) after the lapse of so many centuries; also seven cells (now called oratories) of the shape of a beehive, of dry masonry of curious and peculiar construction, all the stones being horizontal. It is wonderful how they have withstood the assaults of wind and weather for such a period in such an exposed position, and they are now watertight, and quite dry inside. These cells appear to have been the habitation of the monks and the largest is about twelve feet high inside at the centre, and much the same in circumference, the walls being three feet thick. Adjacent to the cells is a small square building of similar mode of structure, said to have been the church. A modern cross has been placed on it by one of the light-keepers, and each Sunday the people assemble there for their devotions. There is also close by a small well, perennially filled with water, which is considered holy and dedicated to the archangel Michael. The people from the mainland sometimes come to this well to perform their devotions and "make rounds" either for the cure of distempers or to obtain pardon for sins. A flat stone adjacent to it has roughly engraved on it some inscriptions of very ancient character, said to have been interpreted by a priest as an exhortation to the people to perform their devotions in a certain manner: viz., to commence their prayers at the rude stone cross over Cron Cove, and coutinue repeating them as they ascend the rock from thence; and if they succeed in carrying them up to the highest pinnacle of the Skellig, called the Needle's Eye, (a difficult and dangerous task to all but cragsmen,) and reach the "stone of pardon," that their sins will be absolved and a clean bill of health obtained. Close by the cells, church, and well are rude crosses of the schist rock, and ancient graves. The people have a legend that a blind man who came to the holy well recovered his sight, from whom the landing-place "Blindman Cove" derives its name. From the N.W. part of the rock rises the highest spire; on the summit of which, called the Needle's Eye, is a small breastwork of dry masonry, of a semicircular or horse-shoe shape, erected by the monks as a place of prayer-remaining through so many ages in such an exposed position a monument of their hardihood and devotion. Between the Needle's Eye peak and the eastern elevated part of the rock is a deep depression, called Christ's valley, which has some sweet herbage and several ancient graves; there are also in it some rude stone crosses of ancient times. The people of the lighthouses keep about forty sheep on the rock, where they find good pasture on the steep slope of the eastern high part and in Christ's valley; the mutton is said to be very excellent. I have heard that the Skellig was bought by the Dublin Ballast Office about thirty years since of Mr. Butler, of Waterville, for £1,500. A boat from Portmagee is employed to communicate twice a week with the rock, to bring intelligence back and forward, convey fresh water, &c. The well on the high part of the rock does not contain sufficient, and is too difficult of access, moreover it is regarded as sacred. The longest time they have been without communication in bad weather has been five weeks. The wave of flood tide coming in from the westward appears to |