NO. u.] MECHANICAL COMPOSITION OF SAMPLES. 35 



This last attribute is not immediately apparent from the curve, which shows 

 quite a large number of more than - 05 mm. ; but in reality the greater part 

 of this area consists of Foraminifera, which with the increased coarseness of 

 the particles, make up a continually increasing percentage in the sample. As 

 the size of the Foraminifera in the sample have nothing whatever to do with 

 the laws that determine the inorganic particles, they ought in reality to be 

 either altogether omitted, or drawn as an independent part of the curve, 

 e. g. under the axis of the abscissa. As, however, No. 15 is the only sample 

 in which the Foraminifera play any appreciable part, I did not wish to in- 

 troduce a new principle for this one curve. The colour of this sample is 

 quite a pure brown; it has probably been deposited very slowly. Most of 

 the clay, and the finer sandy particles may be assumed to have been carried 

 to the locality by currents; while the coarser sandy particles and a corre- 

 sponding portion of the clay have probably originated from the ice. Almost 

 all the clay has been brought out in the washing among the very finest 

 particles; and thus, at this great distance from land, special conditions must 

 prevail, which prevent the coagulation of the clay. Several samples would be 

 necessary, however, for a closer investigation of this matter. 



