FORAMINIFERA. 383 



whether they ever form a lengthened filament. As this is 

 the only circumstance that would justify their separation 

 from Coscinodiscus, to which the separated valve would 

 otherwise seem to belong (Synop. British Diatomacece, 

 vol. i. p. 22), their position in Melosira must rest upon the 

 authority of my accurate correspondent." 



In figs. 209 and 210 are represented many of the beau- 

 tiful forms brought up with soundings made in 1856, for 

 the purpose of ascertaining the depth of the Atlantic, 

 prior to the laying down of the electric telegraph wire 

 from England to America; these specimens were taken 

 from a depth of 2,070 fathoms. 



Major S. R J. Owen, while dredging the surface of 

 mid-ocean Indian and Atlantic oceans found attached to 

 his nets a few interesting forms of Ehizopods, belonging to 

 the two genera Globigerina and Pulvinulina, which always 

 make their appearance on the surface of the ocean after 

 sunset. 1 



"Many of the forms," writes this observer, "have 

 hitherto been claimed by the geologist, but I have found 

 them enjoying life in this their true home, the siliceous 

 shells filled with coloured sarcode, and sometimes this 

 sarcode in a state of distension somewhat similar to that 

 found projecting from the Foraminifera, but not in such 

 slender threads. There are no objects in nature more 

 brilliant in their colouring or more exquisitely delicate in 

 their forms and structure. Some are of but one colour, 

 crimson, yellow, or blue ; sometimes two colours are found 

 on the same individual, but always separate, and rarely if 

 ever mixed to form green or purple. In a globular 

 species, whose shell is made up of the most delicate fret- 

 work, the brilliant colours of the sarcode shine through the 

 little perforations very prettily. In two specimens of the 

 triangular and square forms (Plate III. figs. 44, 45, and 

 46), the respective tints of yellow and crimson are vivid 

 and delicately shaded. In one the pink lines are concen- 

 tric ; while another is of a stellate form (fig. 43), the 

 points and uncoloured parts being bright clear crystal, 

 while a beautiful crimson ring surrounds the central por- 



(1) Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. viii. p. 202 ; voL ix. p. 147, 1866, and January. 



