THE BASIN AND BED OF THE ATLANTIC. 305 



of. The bottom of the ocean at the depth of more than hvo miles 

 I hardly hoped ever to have a chance of examining ; yet, thanks to 

 Brooke's contrivance, we have it clean and free from grease, so that 

 it can at once be put under the microscope. I was greatly de- 

 lighted to find that all these deep soundings are filled with micro- 

 scopic shells ; not a particle of sand or gravel exists in them. They 

 are chiefly made up of perfect httle calcareous shells (Foraminifera), 

 and contain, also, a number of sihcious shells (Diatomaceae). It is 

 mot probable that these animals hved at the depths where these 

 shells are found, but I rather think that they inhabit the waters 

 near the smface ; and when they die, their shells settle to the 

 bottom. With reference to this point, I shall be very glad to 

 'examine bottles of water fi'om various depths which were brought 

 home by the Dolphin, and any similar materials, either 'bottom,' 

 or water from other locahties. I shall study them carefully. . . . 

 The results abeady obtained are of very great interest, and have 

 jnany important bearings on geology and zoology. ... I hope 

 you will induce as many as possible to collect soundings with 

 Brooke's lead, in all parts of the world, so that we can map out the 

 iinimalculae as you have the whales. Get your whalers also to 

 'Collect mud from pancake ice, etc., in the polar regions; this is 

 always full of interesting microscopic forms." 



588. Lieutenant Brooke of the North Pacific Exploring Ex- 

 specimens from the jocdition, procurcd specuneus, of the bottom from the 

 coral sea. ^^^^^i of 2150 fathoms ui the coral sea, lat. 13^ S., 



long. 162^ E. With regard to these, the admnable and lamented 

 Bailey wrote in 1855, " You may be sure I was not backwards in 

 taking a look at the specimens you sent me, which, from their 

 locahty, promised to be so interesting. The sounding from 2150 

 fathoms, although very small in qua^itity, is not so bad in quality, 

 yielding representatives of most of the great groups of microscopic 

 organisms usually found in marine sediments. The predomi- 

 nant forms are sihcious spicules of sponges. Yarious forms of 

 these occur : some long and spindle-shaped, or acicular ; others 

 pin-headed ; some three-spined, etc., etc. The Diatomes (sihcious 

 infusoria of Ehrenberg) are very few m number, and mostly frag- 

 mentary. I found, however, some perfect valves of a coscino- 

 discus. The Foraminifera (Polythalamia of Ehrenberg) are very 

 rare, only one perfect shell being seen, ^\ith a few fragments of 

 others. The polycistineae are present, and some species of ha- 

 liomma were quite perfect. Fragments of other forms of this group 



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