diff --git a/cf/data/abstract/array.py b/cf/data/abstract/array.py
index ba7e3c71dd..1ab1c485e1 100644
--- a/cf/data/abstract/array.py
+++ b/cf/data/abstract/array.py
@@ -25,6 +25,3 @@ def __repr__(self):
     def dask_asarray(self):
         """TODODASK."""
         return False
-
-
-# --- End: class
diff --git a/cf/data/data.py b/cf/data/data.py
index 57af047be1..7778e68452 100644
--- a/cf/data/data.py
+++ b/cf/data/data.py
@@ -470,7 +470,15 @@ def __init__(
                 )
 
         if source is not None:
-            super().__init__(source=source, _use_array=_use_array)
+            try:
+                array = source._get_Array(None)
+            except AttributeError:
+                array = None
+
+            super().__init__(
+                source=source, _use_array=_use_array and array is not None
+            )
+
             if _use_array:
                 try:
                     array = source._get_dask()
@@ -478,6 +486,9 @@ def __init__(
                     pass
                 else:
                     self._set_dask(array, copy=copy, delete_source=False)
+                    # TODODASK: When PR #257 (dask: Data.__getitem__,
+                    #           Data.__setitem__) is merged, add in a
+                    #           "reset_mask_hardness=False".
             else:
                 self._del_dask(None)
 
@@ -488,9 +499,7 @@ def __init__(
 
             return
 
-        super().__init__(
-            array=array, fill_value=fill_value, _use_array=_use_array
-        )
+        super().__init__(array=array, fill_value=fill_value, _use_array=False)
 
         # Create the _HDF_chunks attribute: defines HDF chunking when
         # writing to disk.
@@ -566,6 +575,10 @@ def __init__(
                     "compressed input arrays"
                 )
 
+            # Save the input compressed array, as this will contain
+            # extra information, such as a count or index variable.
+            self._set_Array(array)
+
             array = compressed_to_dask(array)
 
         elif not is_dask_collection(array):
@@ -580,7 +593,7 @@ def __init__(
                 dt = hasattr(first_value, "timetuple")
 
         # Convert string or object date-times to floating point
-        # reference times
+        # reference times, if appropriate.
         if array.dtype.kind in "USO" and (dt or units.isreftime):
             array, units = convert_to_reftime(array, units, first_value)
             # Reset the units
diff --git a/cf/data/gatheredarray.py b/cf/data/gatheredarray.py
index 4fb2a47a43..b41a60b271 100644
--- a/cf/data/gatheredarray.py
+++ b/cf/data/gatheredarray.py
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 import cfdm
 
-from . import mixin
 
-
-class GatheredArray(mixin.CompressedArray, cfdm.GatheredArray):
+class GatheredArray(cfdm.GatheredArray):
     """An underlying gathered array.
 
     Compression by gathering combines axes of a multidimensional array
@@ -16,6 +14,3 @@ class GatheredArray(mixin.CompressedArray, cfdm.GatheredArray):
     .. versionadded:: 3.0.0
 
     """
-
-
-# --- End: class
diff --git a/cf/read_write/read.py b/cf/read_write/read.py
index 04bd0c3dbb..30744d2703 100644
--- a/cf/read_write/read.py
+++ b/cf/read_write/read.py
@@ -503,9 +503,9 @@ def read(
 
             .. versionadded:: 1.5
 
-        chunks: TODO
+        chunks: TODODASK
 
-            .. versionadded:: 4.0.0
+            .. versionadded:: TODODASK
 
         umversion: deprecated at version 3.0.0
             Use the *um* parameter instead.
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ def read(
         select_options: deprecated at version 3.0.0
             Use methods on the returned `FieldList` instead.
 
-        chunk: deprecated at version 4.0.0
+        chunk: deprecated at version TODODASK
             Use the *chunks* parameter instead.
 
     :Returns:
@@ -600,7 +600,7 @@ def read(
             "cf.read",
             {"chunk": chunk},
             "Use keyword 'chunks' instead.",
-            version="4.0.0",
+            version="TODODASK",
         )  # pragma: no cover
 
     # Parse select
@@ -889,6 +889,7 @@ def _read_a_file(
     mask=True,
     warn_valid=False,
     chunks="auto",
+    select=None,
 ):
     """Read the contents of a single file into a field list.
 
@@ -991,7 +992,7 @@ def _read_a_file(
     #            return FieldList()
 
     extra_read_vars = {
-        "chunk": chunk,
+        "chunks": chunks,
         "fmt": selected_fmt,
         "ignore_read_error": ignore_read_error,
         # 'cfa' defaults to False. If the file has