No. 2.] WHITEAVES — ON DEEP-SEA DREDGING. 8^^ 



comparatively shallow water (30 to 40 fathoms) ; and Bolivina 

 punctata, Nonionina iimhiUcatula, Valvulina austr^iaca, and 

 gigantic examples of a Triloculina allied to T. tricarinafay. 

 (perhaps T. cryptella, D'Or,) reminding one of miniature beech- 

 nut seed carved in ivory, were dredged in from 200 to 250 

 fathoms. By far the greater number of the St. Lawrence 

 Foraminifera seem to have a wide range in depth. I have ex- 

 amined large bagfuls of dredgings from more than fifty localities 

 in the northern part of the Gulf, and out of fifty or sixty species 

 or varietal forms, only four or five seem peculiar to deep water. 

 Virgulina squamosa, Bolivina costata and squamosa, Nonionina 

 umhilicatula, and the Triloculina previously mentioned are ap- 

 parently only met with in from 200 to 300 fathoms water. 1m 

 the St. Lawrence, Lagena distoma (typical), Bulimina pyrula 

 and marginata, and Valvulina austriaca are jcharacteristic of 

 deep water, but are very rarely met with in lesser depths- 

 Glohigerina hulloides, though small, is not unfrequent at all 

 depths ; but, curiously enough, Orhulina universa has not yet 

 been found living in Canada. Although many of the Foramini- 

 fera from the deep water are small and delicate, by far the 

 largest specimens yet collected were taken in from 200 to 250 

 fathoms. This agrees with the result of Dr. Carpenter's observa- 

 tions on board the ' Porcupine.' The Rhahdopleura figured by 

 Mr. Dawson I believe to be an annelid tube, having examined the 

 animal in a living state. 



POLYCYSTINA. 



DictyocJia aculeata and a species of Ceratosjyi/ris have been 

 previously catalogued from the Gulf of St. Lawrence by Principal 

 Dawson. Three additional species were dredged in upwards of 

 200 fathoms ; but these are at present undetermined. In 

 Canada, Polycystina are not peculiar to deep water; for I have 

 taken fine specimens from the interior of a species of Ualichon- 

 dria, also from the stomach of Echinus drohachiensis, both 

 collected from a little below low-water mark. 



Sponges. 



Several examples of the Grantia ciliata of 0. Fabricius were 

 dredged from 96 fathoms in Trinity Bay, on the north shore of 

 the St. Lawrence. It is the first sponge with calcareous spicules 

 recorded from the Gulf. The straight spicules of the terminating, 

 cone and the triradiate ones of the body of the sponge, make^ 



