898 RECORD OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



the surface fauna of many hyaline genera which are abundant in 

 bottom clredgings. 



2. Both in Pulvinulina and Glohigerina (but notably in Pulvi- 

 nulina) species closely allied to the surface forms are found in the 

 bottom ooze, though they never occur at the surface ; amongst others, 

 Glohigerina dnhia and G. digitata, Pulvinulina elegnns, P. Karsteni, 

 P. pawperata, and P. faviis. Hence there is no a priori improbability 

 that the other members of the same genera are capable of supporting 

 life at the bottom. 



3. A comparison of specimens of the same species, taken at the 

 surface and at the bottom, demonstrates at least that the average size 

 of the former is less than of the latter, and that the thickness of the 

 cell-wall of the largest surface specimens bears no comparison with 

 that of adult bottom specimens. 



4. Nothing comparable to the thick-shelled Orhidince, still less 

 to those with tests composed of several layers, is to be met with in 

 the sixrfaco fauna. 



5. No surface Globigerince have hitherto been obtained by means 

 of the towing net from points on our own shores at which they are 

 found at the bottom. 



6. A fact adduced by Dr. Wallich, of some weight, as I think, 

 namely, that Glohigerina shells are found in the digestive cavities of 

 Opliiocomce living at the bottom at great depths. 



7. The testimony of many experienced observers (Ehrenberg, 

 Parker and Jones, Wallich, and others), that the Glohigerince. in the 

 small soundings which they had for examination contained the 

 sarcode bodies, the colour and nature of which each has described, 

 with which statement the author's results from the material taken in 

 the " tow net attached to trawl " generally agree. 



On the whole, Mr. Brady is inclined to think that these lowly 

 organisms may be both deep-sea and pelagic, their simple organiza- 

 tion enabling them to live equally well at the surface and on the sea 

 bottom. 



Structure of Haliphysema Tumanowiczii.* — This interesting or- 

 ganism, as to the nature of which so much discussion has lately been 

 made, has now been examined by Professor Ray Lankester, who 

 arrives at the conclusion that Haliphysema is, as Mr. Saville Kent and 

 Mr. Carter believe, a Reticularian Rhizopod, and not, as Professor 

 Haeckel thinks, a sponge. Of the specimens examined, furnished by 

 Mr. Kent, some were fresh, others preserved in chromic acid. 



It is unnecessary to say anything about the well-known spicular test; 

 the point of chief interest is Professor Laukester's description of the 

 contents. These were best made out in chromic acid specimens mounted 

 in balsam and crushed so as to crack the test and allow of the sepa- 

 ration of the soft internal substance. The latter was found to be "a 

 continuous mass of protoplasm, exhibiting no central cavity, and 

 devoid of all structure." Scattered through the protoplasm are great 

 numbers of vesicular nuclei, like those of Pelomyxa, and most abundant 

 in the basal or prominent portion of the " core " of protoplasm. 

 * ' Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci.,' xix. (1879) p. 470. 



