116 BULLETIN 104, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



VIRGI:LINA COMPRESSA (Balley). 



Plate 24, figs. 2, 3. 



Bulimina compressa Bailey, Smithsonian Contrib.. vol. 2, art. 3, 1851, p. 12, 



pi. 12, figs. 35-37. 

 Buliynina presli Reuss, var. (Virguliaa) schrclbersli (part) Parker and Jones, 



Philos. Trans., vol. 155, 1865, p. 375, pi. 17, fig. 72. 

 Virgulina schreibersiana Flint (not V. schreibersiana Czjzek), Rep. U. S. Nat. 



Mus., 1897 (1899), p. 291, pi. 37, fig. 6. 



Description. — Test elongate, gradually tapering, slightly com- 

 pressed, widest somewhat above the middle in the adult, apical end 

 bluntly rounded; chambers comparatively few, inflated, oblicjue, 

 distinct, arranged biserially, usually four or five on each side, the early 

 chambers in the microspheric form arranged triserially; sutures dis- 

 tinct, depressed; wall smooth, fairly thick, finely punctate; aperture 

 elongate oval, the narrow end near the border of the chamber; color 

 white. 



Length 0.6-1.0 mm. 



Distrihution. — Bailey's stations for this species are as follows: 

 "F. No. 24, 49 fathoms (90 meters); latitude 39° 52' 40" N., longi- 

 tude 72° 14' 00" W.; F. No. 25, 105 fathoms (193 meters); latitude 

 39° 41' 10" N., longitude 71° 43' 00" W.; G. No. 31, 50 fathoms 

 (91 meters); latitude 39° 20' 38" N., longitude 72° 44' 35" W." 

 These are southeast of Long Island. Flint's record for V. sclirei- 

 hersiana, which is clearly this species, is from AWatross D2263, off 

 Chesapeake Bay, in 430 fathoms (787 meters). It has occurred in 

 considerable numbers at several Albatross and Fish Hwwk stations, 

 all in this same general region. The only exception is a single station 

 in the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico, and the specimens seem 

 to be thinner and to have more chambers, so ma}^ be different. 



Bailey's figure of this species is very clear and definite and repre- 

 sents well a specimen which is not quite adult. His description 

 "shell elongated, somewhat pyramidal, slightly compressed laterally, 

 aperture a long cleft without any very distinct margin," together 

 with the very good figure, will serve to identify this species, especially 

 as there is now available a large series from this general region. The 

 specimens show little variation. The differences in the microspheric 

 and megalospheric forms are marked by the triserial condition in the 

 early chambers of the former, the biserial condition being assumed 

 at once in the latter. The very white, shining, polished surface is 

 very much like that of some Miliolidae. Altogether this is a very 

 well-defined species when seen with abundant specimens. 



