BED OF THE ATLANTIC. 



A PAPER* was read, on the 8th of February, 1869, before the Royal Geographical 

 Society of London, in connection with the Gulf Stream, being an investigation 

 of its northern limits, its currents, depths, and temperatures ; and in continuation 

 of that paper, the present, which is one of natural history rather than geography, 

 shewing a few of the beautiful organic remains found in those depths some 

 already known, but from their fantastic and elegant outline are again figured ; 

 others new, and attempted here to be drawn and briefly described : but it is 

 feared that no adequate idea of their exquisite beauty and structure can be 

 given with pen or pencil ; while others, not altogether new, are doubtless varieties 

 of those species well known. These, brought from depths of nearly three miles, 

 under the influence of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, whose development 

 by temperature is so wonderfully evident, shews, in every minute form, unmis- 

 takeable evidences of design, which excite both admiration and wonder ! 



These are the productions of one single sounding from 2000 fathoms, and are 

 upwards of one hundred in number ! 



(See Plates 1 to 1 4.) 



A few remarks on some forms of Foraminiferaa, Polycystinae, and Diatomacere, 

 brought up from great depths under the Gulf Stream, between the Newfound- 

 land Banks and the Azores the parallel of latitude being 47 north, the tem- 

 perature of the sea surface 70, that of the bottom, at 2000 fathoms, 40 (Fahr.) 



The naturalist will doubtless admit that it involves not only the expenditure 

 of much time, but great labour to properly examine material collected from great 

 ocean depths. 



* See paper in Appendix, Geo. Soc., 8th February, 1869. 



