18 



General Remarks. 



With regard to the Foraminifera, the Muddy Creek Beds con- 

 tain one of the richest local fauna that is known, either recent or 

 fossil. The rich gatherings from the Suffolk Crag (Pliocene) 

 yielded 100 species, and the greatest number of species from any 

 one locality in the British area in this formation Avas 62 species. 

 The Lower Bed at Muddy Creek has yielded 163 species, and the 

 Upper Bed 76 species. Of these 52 species are common to both 

 formations, leaving a net total of 180 species and seven varieties 

 for the section as a whole. Mr. Brady (" Challenger " Report) 

 makes special mention of a remarkably rich dredging off Raine 

 Island, Torres Straits, which contained a greater number of species 

 in this class than any other haul made during the cruise, and 

 included many rarities. There is a close resemblance in tlie 

 number of species obtained from Torres Straits and Muddy 

 Creek, whilst many of the rarer forms are common to both. 



The stratigrajDhical distinction between the two beds of the 

 section concerned is sufficiently marked from the fact that the 

 Foraminifera common to both only amount to 28 per cent, of the 

 whole. There is also a marked change in the general facies of 

 the rhizopodal fauna as we pass from the lower to the upper geo- 

 logical horizon, pointing to a shallowing of the sea bottom, which 

 is indicated not only by the relatively larger numbers of shallow- 

 water species in the Upper Bed, but these are proportionately 

 more numerous and better developed as individuals. 



Witli regard to climatic conditions, the majority of the Muddy 

 Creek Foraminifera point to a higher temperature prevailing in 

 tlie locality of their deposition than is proper to such latitudes in 

 the present day. A very large proportion of species are charac- 

 teristically tropical, and a decided majority in each case have 

 their geographical range, in the present, restricted to the tropical 

 and warmer temperate zones. So far as can be determined, tlie 

 following- summary will illustrate the bathymetrical and climatic 

 ■distribution of the species concerned : — 



Bathymetrical Range. 



Lower Bed — 68 (49 per cent.) shallow; 39 (28 per cent.) 

 moderately deep to deep; 32 (23 per cent.) unrestricted. 



Upper Bed — 4-2 (58 per cent.) shallow; 12 (16 per cent.) 

 moderately deep to deep; 18 (25 per cent.) unrestricted. 



Climatal Range. 



Lower Bed — 37 (26 per cent.) tropical ; 47 (33 per cent.) warm 

 temperate and tropical; 9 (6 per cent.) temperate; 48 (34 per 

 cent.) cosmopolitan. 



