The first French exploration, which was an experimental trip, was made in 1880 by the Travailleur in the Gulf of Gascogne. Its unhoped for results had so great an importance that the following year the government decided to continue its researches, and the Travailleur was again put at the disposal of Mr. Alph. Milne Edwards and the commission over which he presided. Mr. Edwards traversed the Gulf of Gascogne, visited the coast of Portugal, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, and explored a great portion of the Mediterranean. In 1882 the same vessel undertook a third mission to the Atlantic Ocean, and as far as to the Canary Islands. The Travailleur, however, being a side-wheel advice-boat designed for doing service at the port of Rochefort, presented none of those qualities that are requisite for performing voyages that are necessarily of long duration. The quantity of coal that could be stored away in her bunkers was consumed in a week, and, after that, she could not sail far from the points where it was possible for her to coal up again. So after her return Mr. Edwards made a request for a ship that was larger, a good sailer, and that was capable of carrying with it a sufficient supply of fuel for remaining a long time at sea, and that was adapted to submarine researches. The Commission indorsed this application, and the Minister of Instruction received it and transmitted it to Admiral Jauréguiberry--the Minister of the Marine--who at once gave orders that the Talisman should be fitted up and put in commission for the new dredging expedition. This vessel, under command of Captain Parfait, who the preceding year had occupied the same position on the Travailleur, left the port of Rochefort on the 1st of June, 1883, having 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.]