FORAMINIFERA 135 



supply of sand, but you are sure to meet with the 

 object of your search. If the contents of the paper 

 be put into water, the Foraminifera will float 

 Specimens of deposits from all ocean floors may be 

 had at any of the reliable mounters of microscopic 

 objects. 



The postal arrangements are so simple now that 

 there need be but little delay or difficulty in getting 

 samples of rocks from any of the great formations 

 of the globe. Any practical geologist would give 

 instructions as to the way in which any specimen can 

 be obtained and prepared, in order to show the 

 hidden beauty of their structure to perfection. 



If the Eozoon Canadense of the Laurentian rocks 

 belonged to the Foraminifera, these creatures must 

 have been amongst the very earliest inhabitants of 

 the earlier waters of the globe. But as the animal 

 nature of Eozoon has always been a matter of doubt 

 with many eminent naturalists, we have only to refer 

 to the other rocks previously mentioned for evidence 

 of the very remote appearance of the Foraminifera as 

 elevating agents of an almost universal character. 



The exceedingly simple structure of the creature 

 itself, apart from its shell, is a matter of surprise to all 

 who have observed them under the microscope. 

 Scarcely anything can be noticed but a jelly-like 

 substance termed ' sarcode,' or rudimentary flesh. In 

 fact, no difference between the amoeba, the sarcode of 

 a rhizopod, and that of the Foraminifera can be 

 detected, however high may be the microscopic 



