200 THE ATLANTIC. [ CHAP. III. 
in such numbers, floating on the surface of the sea, that the sus- 
picion seems justifiable that they possess, at all events at a cer- 
tain period of their existence, a pelagic mode of life, differing 
in this respect from most of the remainder of their class. Thus 
Miller often found in the contents of the surface-net off the 
coast of France, the young of /otalia, but more particularly 
Globigerine and Orbuline, the two latter frequently covered 
with fine calcareous tubes, prolongations of the borders of the 
fine pores through which the pseudopodia protrude through the 
shell. I took similar Globigerine and Orbuline almost daily 
in a fine net at Messina, often in great numbers, particularly in 
February. Often the shell was covered with a whole forest 
of extremely long and delicate calcareous tubes projecting from 
all sides, and probably contributing essentially to enable these 
little animals to float below the surface of the water by greatly 
increasing their surface, and consequently their friction against 
the water, and rendering it more difficult for them to sink.’’* 
In 1865 and 1866 two papers were read by Major Owen, F.L.S., 
before the Linnzan Society, “On the Surface Fauna of Mid- 
ocean.” In these communications the author stated that he 
had taken foraminifera of the genera Globigerina and Pulvi- 
nulina living, in the tow-net on the surface, at many stations 
in the Indian and Atlantic oceans. He described the special 
forms of these genera which were most common, and gave an 
interesting account of their habits; proposing for a family 
which should include Globigerma with Orbulina as a subge- 
nus, and Pulwinulina, the name Colymbite, from the cireum- 
stance that, like the radiolaria, these foraminifera are found on 
the surface after sunset, “ diving” to some depth beneath it dur- 
ing the heat of the day. Our colleague, Mr. Gywn Jeffreys, 
chiefly on the strength of Major Owen’s papers, maintained 
* “Die Radiolarien.” Eine Monographie von Dr. Ernst Haeckel. Berlin, 1862. 
Pages 166, 167. 
