Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/341

 THE MEDITERRANEAN. three cachalots, some dolphin of the genus globicephali, peculiar to the Mediterranean, the back of the head being variegated with small lines; and some scals known as “ Monks,” and which have really something of the appearance of a Dominican. Conseil thought he saw a tortoise six feet wide. I was sorry I had not noticed it, for, from Conseil’s description, I only believed it to be the “luth,” which is very rare. I only remarked a few caconans, with elongated shell coverings. As regards zoophytes, I was able to admire for some minutes an admirable orange-colored galcolaria, which had attached itself to the panel on the port side. I unfortunately, was unable to secure this splendid specimen; and perhaps no other Mediterranean zoophytes would have presented themselves if the Nautilus, during the evening of the 16th, had not unexpectedly slackéned speed, under the following circumstances. We were passing between the coasts of Sicily and Tunis. In this narrow space, between Cape Bon and the Strait of Messina, the bottom of the sea rose very suddenly. A regular reef had formed, above which there was not sixty feet of water. The Nautilus had therefore to move very carefully, so as not to knock against the reef. I pointed out to Conseil the position of the reef on the chart. “But, if Monsieur has no objection, this is a regular isthmus, uniting Europe to Africa.” “Yes,” I replied, “it is a perfect bar to the Libyan Straits, and the soundings of Smith have proved that those continents were formerly united between Cape Boco and Cape Furnia.” “T can easily believe it,” replied Conseil. “J may add that a similar reef exists between Ceuta and