FORAMINIFERA. 



247 



reason, when any one would many Lis daughter, a number 

 of young fellows are stripped, and jump into the sea, and 

 he that can stay longest in the water, and gather the most 

 sponges, marries the maid." The diver, on reaching the 

 growing sponges, tears them off with his hands, and puts 

 them under his arm ; he then pulls a cord in connection 

 with the boat at the surface, and is drawn up by his com- 

 panions. By long practice the best divers are able to re- 

 main about two minutes under water. 



The surface waters of temperate seas abound in minute, 

 microscopic creatures known as Foraminifera, which live in 

 shells of the most beautiful and varied forms, and composed 

 principally of lime. Although almost invisible to the 

 naked eye, these tiniest of creatures have played, and are 

 still playing, an important part in the economy of nature. 

 They live in countless myriads on the surface of the ocean ; 

 and as they die, their habitations — those little calcareous 



