THE society's XOTE-P.OOKS. 253 



It is an interesting fact, that a deposit of Estuarine clay, 

 above high-water mark, found on the shores of Larne Lough, in 

 CO. Antrim, Ireland, contains all the species in this slide, which 

 are, as a rule, only small, though distinct. It is also interesting to 

 find that the same species are now existing round our coast. 



As these shells from the March sands are not at all fossilised, 

 they may readily be obtained from the sand by the process of 

 "floating" which I have described in the Journal, Vol. I., the 

 sand being first thoroughly well dried. The sand, which sinks to 

 the bottom of the vessel in which the " floating " is performed, 

 should be examined for the larger Foraminifera, which, / think, 

 have been lost by the process employed to obtain those in the 

 slide under notice. The he ivy porcellanous Forams will not 

 always float. They may, however, be obtained easily from the 

 wet sand by the process recommended by Williamson — viz., 

 draining off the water from the sand on a dish or plate, and 

 shake the plate by tapping it gently ; the larger Forams, if 

 present, will rise to the surface and may be picked off. Another 

 plan which I have found effectual is to pass the dry sand through 

 a very fine gravy-strainer with round holes, which will stop the 

 Foraminifera from passing. 



This slide contains the following species : — 



Hyaline group : — Polystomella crispa ; P. striata punctata ; 

 Planorbulina mediterranensis ; Nonionina depressula ; Rotalia 

 becearii ; R. nitida ; Polymorphina gibba ; Globigarina buUoides 

 (very large) ; Textularia variabilis; Bulimina pupoides ; B. ovata; 

 Lagena laevis ; L. melo ; L. sulcata ; L. caudata ; L. lucida ; 

 L. marginata ; L. globosa. 



Porcellanous group : — Cornuspira foliacea ; Triloculina trigo- 

 nula ; T. oblonga ; Quinque loculina sub-rotunda ; Q. bicornis. 



Making 22 species, with a possibility of some others. 



C. Elcock. 



Flying-Fish.— The name of the tribe {Exoccetiis) has a curious 

 derivation. It is from ik (outside) and kqit^ (a bed), so called 

 from the supposition, held in old times, that these fishes slept on 

 land. It must be a beautiful sight on a clear day to see them 

 sparkling in the air with silvery brightness, or rushing from the 

 waters when pursued by their enemies, spreading out their large 

 fins, their brilliant purple backs gleaming, and their sides blazing 

 like molten metal under the dazzling light of a tropical sun. The 

 greatest length of time that they remain in the air is 32 seconds, 

 and their longest flight from 200 to 250 yards. They belong to 

 the same family as the Pikes. E. E. Jarrett. 



TouRNAL OF Microscopy and Natural Science. 



New Series. Vol. II. 1889. v 



