TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 109 
On the present occasion he gave a brief summary of his examinations. 
The greatest depth at which specimens have been obtained is 1750 fathoms. 
The soundings from this and less depths, up to 1000 fathoms, consist almost 
entirely of microscopic organisms, such as those made known by Bailey, Wallich, 
and others, and procured by similar expeditions. 
The marvellous profusion of Foraminifera and other minute structures in the 
soundings shows that there is forming at the bottom of the Atlantic, wherever it 
descends below the level of a few hundred fathoms, a wide spread of calcareous 
deposits, which will eventually become converted into beds of limestone. While 
nearly all the particles of these deposits are the shells of dead Foraminifera and 
their impalpable débris, it is evident that the surface of the Atlantic bed is one 
vast sheet of the same organisms in a living state, whose office it is to clear the 
waters of the ocean of the mineral and organic impurities which are ever flowing 
into them. 
Although perforating-shells are living at great depths, Prof. King does not 
think there are any grounds for apprehending that they would bore into a telegraph 
cable; and he is inclined to believe that there is little chance of its getting injured 
if laid down on foraminiferous bottoms, as in such places chemical and vital 
actions appear to be going on so rapidly and unceasingly, that a cable cannot but 
become covered up in the course of a few years with a considerable deposit of 
calcareous matter. 
The expedition has been fortunate in bringing to light some interesting facts in 
microscopic life,—in making known some species of shells and other animals new to 
the British fauna,—and in extending our knowledge of the habitats of certain rare 
species. A fishing-bank which has been discovered, yielded to the dredge, at 
100 fathoms, Leda pygmea, Pisidium fulvum, Arca raridentata, Limatula sub- 
auriculata, Scissurella crispata, Crania norvegica, &e., besides Sponges, Starfishes, 
and Sea Urchins. Of fishes, a species of Rhombus, allied to the Whiff, and a 
species of Sebastes, allied to the Norwegian Haddock, were dredged on the shal- 
lower parts of the bank. Specimens of a Pipe-fish were captured on the surface, 
nearly 200 miles west of Galway: the fishes appear to be unrecorded as British 
species. The same prolific bank yielded an abundance of a large Hermit Crab, 
specimens of which were taken tenanting the rare shell, Buccinwm ovum. At the 
depth of 340 fathoms the lead brought up orbulo-globigerinous mud, containing 
dead specimens of a Pecten, an Arca, and a Pectunculus, all of which appear not 
to be known as British; also specimens of T’rochus millegranus. A. perfectly fresh 
specimen of a new Cochlodesma was also brought up from the depth of 1000 
fathoms, 100 miles west of Cape Clear. 
Notes on Spherularia Bombi. By Joun Lussocx, F.R.S. 
In the first number of the ‘ Natural History Review ’ (January 1861), the author 
has given an account of this curious entozoon, which was first described by Léon Du- 
four, and very appropriately named by him Spherularia Bombi, the genericname being 
taken from the “spherules” by which the body is covered, and the specific name 
indicating the victims which are attacked. It has also been observed by Siebold, 
who met with the young. At one end, in every single specimen, was attached a 
small nematoid-like worm, closely resembling a young Spherularia in form and 
size, and which the author presumed to be the male. So small however was it, so 
diminutive in comparison with its gigantic mate, that it had escaped the notice 
both of Léon Dufour and of Von Siebold. It was always attached in the same 
manner, namely, at a point near the tail, but distant from it by about one-fifth of 
the whole length of the animal, and was affixed to the female body almost at one 
extremity and at the end opposite to the opening of the female generative orifice. 
The internal organs of Spherularia were stated to consist only of a long, single 
ovary and a double row of large cells, which were attached at the two ends, but, 
with that exception, lay freely in the general cavity. No mouth or anus, no intes- 
tinal canal, muscles, nerves, or vessels, were found in this curious and abnormal 
entozoon, 
The author now confirms his previous statements. He has also examined a 
