from the Oulf and River St. Lawrence. 85 



In the estuary of tlie St. Lawrence itself, Bulimina pyrula 

 becomes a somewhat common form. Among forms which in 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence may be mentioned as specially cha- 

 racteristic of deep water wee, Nodosaria {Glandulina) loivigafa, 

 Glohigerina huUoides (very small), Bulimina, principally B. 

 squamosa {also small), Uvifjerina jiyfpnaia^ Cassidalina. 



From depths greater than 100 fathoms all the Foraminifera 

 are very small and delicate ; and Lagenida?, Buliminida3, 

 Olohigerina hulloides, together with a few depauperated No- 

 nioninos, constitute the greater part of the fauna. From these 

 depths also come many Diatoms, mostly Coscinodiscus, and 

 sponge-spicules. Polystomella striatopunctata is almost every- 

 where prevalent, though it nowhere attains to any very great 

 size, and below about 30 fathoms becomes small and generally 

 rare, and continues increasing in rarity till it almost disappears 

 at 300 fathoms. In some localities, at about 30 fathoms, P. 

 arctica is abundant, and greatly surpasses in size the ordinary 

 Polystomellce occurring along with it. The remaining P. 

 striatopunctatce also at this depth often show a remarkable 

 proneness to run into modifications resembling one or other 

 of the numerous species and varieties into which the genus is 

 subdivided ; but as the transition series are complete, it is 

 very difficult to place the bulk of the specimens satisfactorily 

 under them. It has been thought better, in the Table, to in- 

 clude as many as are easily seen to be modified striatopunc- 

 tatce under that name. Nonionina lahradorica, though not so 

 universally distributed as the above, is a very characteristic 

 species in the gulf. It seems to be best developed and in 

 largest numbers at about 30 fathoms. It thins off both in 

 numbers and size as we go into shallower water, and decreases 

 much in size, though not so perceptibly in numbers, as the 

 water deepens to 100 fathoms and below. There is a remark- 

 able absence of Miliolas in the estuarine parts of the gulf, 

 which strongly contrasts with their abundance in Gasp^ Bay 

 and also on the Atlantic coast of Xova Scotia, and south. 



One specimen of a cmious sandy form of Cornnspira foliacea 

 was obtained at a depth of 18 fathoms at Gasp^. 



Biloculina ringens scarcely occurs above 30 fathoms. 



At Murray Bay, which is only about sixty miles below the 

 point where at least the surface of the St. Lawrence becomes 

 permanently fresh, the Foraminifera become very scarce and 

 poor. Polystomella striatopunctata is the most common, but 

 it has become very small. Nonionina labradorica^ Lituola 

 canariensis^ and Trochammina inflata also occur, but all much 

 reduced in size, and, relatively to the amount of material 

 examined, scarce. On passing from the gulf to the east of 



