No. 1. — Reports on the Dredging Operations off the West Coast 
of Central America to the Galapagos, to the West Coast of Mex- 
ico, and in the Gulf of California, in charge of ALEXANDER 
AGASSIZ, carried on by the U. S. Fish Commission Steamer 
Albatross,” during 1891, Lieut. Commander Z. L. TANNER, 
U.S. N., Commanding. 
[Published by permission of MARSHALL McDonatp, U. S. Fish Commissioner.] 
XX. 
The Foraminifera. By Axer Gods. 
Tun following notes are the result of an examination of bottom sam- 
ples from 131 stations in the West Indian waters, and from 126 in the 
Pacific. 
A look at the special description of the different bottoms and also at the 
bathymetrical list at the end of this Report shows that there is a sudden 
decrease of foraminiferal life below a depth of twelve hundred fathoms in 
these seas. It often happens that in greater depths, particularly in the 
Caribbean Sea, where the Globigerina deposits usually take immense 
proportions, the whole shell deposit of pelagic forms seems to be in a 
state of decay, probably owing to the chemical constitution of the deep 
water, with brownish brittle or half-broken shells, and such bottoms 
seem also to afford very scanty conditions for the development of this 
class of beings. Sometimes, also, where the Globigerina deposit is quite 
fresh, but present in too great abundance, it seems somewhat to preju- 
dice their growth. We may suggest that a constant “snowing down” 
of dead pelagic forms may be injurious to many of these delicate organ- 
isms, leaving unimpaired only the stronger sand or débris builders, which 
may occur in such localities. 
1 To facilitate the comparison of the Foraminifera found on both sides of the 
Isthmus of Panama, Dr. Goés has included in this Report the results of an exam- 
nation of a series of selected samples of soundings collected by the U. S. C. $. S. 
“Blake” and by the U. S. F. C. S.“ Albatross“ in the Gulf of Mexico and in the 
Caribbean Sea. — A. AGASSIZ. 
VOL, XXIX. — NO. 1. 1 
