lielicvc tliat the water at Gaspe Bay is somewliat wanner than 

 tlie (Jiilf of St. Lawrence in ireneral, the nmd as it came over the 

 boat's side felt i.'y cold to the hand, sliowipg even here wliat a 

 t:,Teat effect the iceberg-laden Arctic current has on the bottom 

 temperature. The nujnbcr of species tabulated must not in eveiy 

 instance be taken as a criterion of the relative richness of the 

 localities, as much often depends on the amount of material at 

 disposal. This is especially the case when comparing dredgings 

 witli soundings. 



The general aspect of the GuH' of St. Lawrence Foraminifera 

 is northern, and in many places closely resembles the fauna of the 

 (ii'cenland coast and the Ilunde Islands, as given in I'arker 

 & Jones' Memoir/''= The Gulf, at least so far as its Foraminifera 

 areeoucerned, evidently belongs to the Arctic province, the limits 

 of which skirt the Banks of Newlbundland and pas^s from thence 

 southward to Cape Bn •^^on. 



The refrigeration of its waters depends on the Arctic current, 

 wliich, entering the Straits of Belle Isle, floods the whole bottom 

 of the Gulf with water almost at the temperature of the Arctic 

 seas. To these conditions the series of collections from Gaspe 

 oilers somewhat an exception, and is of a slightly more southern 

 character, both as regards the species represented and the deve- 

 lopement which they attain. This difference depends on purely 

 local causes, which, wliile slightly clianging the cliaracter, give 

 opportunities for a very abundant developement of Foraminifera, 

 more esi)ecially of the arenaceous forms. Gaspe Bay in no part 

 exceeds 50 fathoms in depth ; is about 20 miles in extreme 

 length, well land-locked, and disturbed by no other current than 

 that caused by the ebb and flow of the tide. The depth is not 

 so great as to allow of the incursion of the cold and deep layer to 

 any great extent, and the proximity of land and the shelter tlius 

 afforded tend still further to modify its temperature. 



The bottom, in most of the deeper parts, is composed of fine 

 sand and mud, and this it is which favors the very large deve- 

 lopment of arenaceous forms. 



Past the mouth of Gaspu Bay sweeps the very strong tidal 

 current of the St. Lawrence, and immediately we pass tlie shelter 

 of Ship Head and come within its influence, the changes in the 

 Foraminifera become strikingly apparent. The bottom consisting 



* PhiIa.sophical Trausaetlous, 1865. 



