FORAMINIFERA OF NOETH PACIFIC OCEAN. 15 



described by Brady in the Challenger Report as from this region 

 only. The more extended work of the Albatross adds much to our 

 knowledge of the real distribution of these species formerly known 

 from only a single station. 



U. 8. S. Nero. — Next in importance to the work of the Albatross 

 has been that of the U. S. S. Nero, which in 1899 and 1900 made a 

 detailed cable survey across the North Pacific from the Hawaiian 

 Islands to Midway Island, thence to Guam, to Luzon, to Guam, to 

 Yokohama, to Guam, to Midway Island, and then back to the Hawai- 

 ian Islands. Thus a very complete line of soundings was made, 

 giving, in connection with the 1891-92 survey from California made 

 by the Albatross, a complete line of soundings and of bottom samples 

 across the whole North Pacific. The work of the Nero by actual 

 distance of the course of the survey gives on an average a record for 

 every few miles of the distance. Such detailed work has not been 

 available for any such distance before. Much of the work was in 

 very deep water in red clay areas, and the results as to the Foram- 

 inifera practically nil, but many areas of shallower water were cov- 

 ered with typical globigerina ooze conditions. The areas about the 

 various centers of work at Honolulu, Midway, Guam, etc., gave an 

 excellent series of Foraminifera. About 750 bottom samples from 

 work of the Nero, mostly from the shallower areas, were examined and 

 much was thereby learned in regard to actual distribution of the 

 various species, many of the results of decided importance in delimit- 

 ing faunal areas for the North Pacific. 



U. 8. S. Alert. — A considerable number of bottom samples was 

 available from the work of the U. S. S. Alert in the western Pacific. 

 As a rule, these were in the vicinity of the Bonin Islands and near 

 other volcanic islands, containing in general little of interest, yet 

 certain of the samples had many interesting species and add stations 

 which otherwise would not have been accessible. 



Miscellaneous. — Scattered material from various sources has also 

 been available, from the China Sea, Hongkong, and various shore 

 stations in the Philippines. All have added interesting data, although 

 the material from such sources was not usually rich in Foraminifera. 

 Strangely enough, the region from which the least material was 

 available is that of the west coast of the United States. This is 

 partly due to the fact that the Albatross when in these waters is often 

 engaged in work other than that of dredging. Enough material is 

 available, however, to show that the region is a peculiar one in many 

 respects. 



DISTRIBUTION AND ITS FACTORS. 



In relation to the Foraminifera there are three conditions which 

 are of importance in addition to the character of the bottom — depth, 

 temperature, and ocean currents. 



