THE FORAMINIFERA. 163 



bearing class. Although the whole process of growth and 

 development cannot be traced, there is reason to believe that 

 the animal arrives at a mature size before commencing to 

 form its shell. Unlike the Mollusk, which commences its free 

 life with a shell, and progressively increases its dimensions by 

 the deposition of carbonate of lime, the Foraminifera form a 

 transparent shell of mature size, which it gradually thickens, 

 when we read their comparative ages by contrasting their 

 opacity. 



Southport is a very favourable locality for the collection of 

 Foraminifera ; in a comparatively short time I have been 

 enabled to add considerably to the number of species recorded 

 by Professor Williamson as occurring on this coast 



For the benefit of the would-be collector I may state the 

 best method of collecting. In walking along the shore, at 

 either high or low-water mark, little slopes are seen, where the 

 retreating wave has left fine debris of comminuted shells, etc. 

 Carefully scrape this off the sand, take home and thoroughly 

 dry it, then throw a little at a time on a basin of water, 

 when the heavy particles will sink and leave the Foraminifera 

 floating on the top. Skim this off, dry it, and examine under 

 a lens. The objects sought for will then be seen, and may be 

 picked out with the point of a needle. Touch your hair with 

 the needle this slightly greases it and causes the Foramini- 

 fera to adhere lightly to the point. Fix the needle into a little 

 wooden handle for convenience in using. 



LIST OF THE SOUTHPORT FORAMINIFERA. 



Orbulina universa. 



Lagena vulgaris. 



Lagena vulgar is var. clavata. 



