344 Mr. J. F. Whiteaves on Deep-sea Dredging 



chammina incerta were collected in comparatively shallow 

 water (30 to 40 fathoms) ; and Bolivina punctata^ Nonionina 

 umhilicatula^ Vulvulina austriaca^ and gigantic examples of 

 the true Triloculina tricarinata (reminding one of miniature 

 beech-nut seeds carved in ivory) were dredged in from 200 

 to 250 fathoms. By far the greater number of the St.-Law- 

 rence Foraminifera seem to have a wide range in depth. I 

 have examined large bagfuls of dredgings from more than 

 fifty localities in the northern part of the gulf, and out of fifty 

 or sixty species or varietal forms, only four or five seem pecu- 

 liar to deep water. Vii-gulina squamosa, Bolivina costata and 

 squamosa, Nonionina umbilicatula, and the typical Triloculina 

 tricarinata are only met with in apparently from 200 to 300 

 fathoms water. In the St. Lawrence, Lagena distoma (typi- 

 cal) , Bulimina pyrula and marginata, and Vulvulina austriaca, 

 are characteristic of deep water, but are very rarely met with 

 in lesser depths. Glohigerina hulloides, though small, is not 

 unfrequent at all depths ; but, curiously enough, Orhulina uni- 

 versa has not yet been found living in Canada. Although many 

 of the Foraminifera from the deep water are small and delicate, 

 by far the largest specimens yet collected were taken in from 

 200 to 250 fathoms. This agrees with the result of Dr. Car- 

 penter's observations on board the ' Porcupine.' The Rhab- 

 dopleura figured by Mr. Dawson I believe to be an annelid- 

 tube, having examined the animal in a living state. 



POLYCYSTINA. 



Dictyocha aculeata and a species of Geratospyris have been 

 previously catalogued from the Gulf of St. Lawrence by Prin- 

 cipal Dawson. Three additional species were dredged in up- 

 wards of 200 fathoms ; but these are at present undetermined. 

 In Canada, Polycystina are not peculiar to deep water ; for I 

 have taken fine specimens from the interior of a species of 

 Halicliondria, also from the stomach of Echinus drobacliiensis, 

 both collected from a little below low-water mark. 



Sponges. 



Several examples of the Grantia ciliata of O. Fabricius 

 were dredged from 96 fathoms in Trinity Bay, on the north 

 shore of the St. Lawrence. It is the first sponge with cal- 

 careous spicules recorded from the Gulf. The straight spicules 

 of the terminating cone and the triradiate ones of the body of 

 the sponge, make beautiful polariscope objects. A fine species 

 of Polymastia was abundant in many places in deep water. 

 In 38 fathoms off Cap-Rosier lighthouse a massive Hali- 

 chondria was dredged, which, besides the ordinary smooth, 



