MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS. 52 



Fig. 103. Foraminif era from the Adriatic Sea, x 40. 



The Foraminifera in this drawing are much smaller than 

 those taken from the Levant end of the Mediterranean Sea, 

 which may possibly be accounted for by the action of the 

 storms in that region ; for if the shells were larger no doubt 

 they would be deposited in greater abundance. The Fora- 

 minifera are thought by many authors to belong to a family 

 of which the Amoeba (fig. 101) may be taken as an example. 

 The soft body of the Foraminifera may be separated from its 

 shell by the action of dilute muriatic acid say, one drop of 

 acid to a teaspoonful of water. 



The best way of separating the shells from the surrounding 

 sand &c. is to float them in water, when the sand sinks and 

 the shells are left on the surface. 



They may then be mounted in the way recommended under 

 fig. 102; or they may be put up in a dry opaque cell. 



Fig. 104. Foraminifera from the Levant, x 20. 



These species of Foraminifera are much larger than those 

 in fig. 103, which may possibly be accounted for as remarked 

 in the preceding description. In the shells of the Foramini- 

 fera, Polycystina, &c. numerous small holes will be noticed ; 

 it is from these holes that the family has been named (Latin, 

 foramen, a hole). The holes will be especially noticed in 

 the shells of the Polycystina represented in fig. 105, and in 

 all the common species of the Foraminifera of the chalk for- 

 mation &c. 



Many forms of the recent Foraminifera may be obtained 

 from dredgings at most of our sea-coast towns ; but the more 

 beautiful forms are generally obtained from deeper water than 

 is found in our English Channel. 



