1893.] Bacterial Flora of the Atlantic. 393, 
ina few species. One form, Bacillus limicola, is very com- 
non and is almost always found in every culture that is made 
fom the mud. Besides this predominating form there 
if the superincumbent water masses. These have not fallen 
the sea bottom in a dormant condition, but are actively 
Wegetating, as will be shown in the succeeding paragraph. 
‘The actual Stage of development in which marine bacteria 
are found. 
The quantitative analysis of the ocean waters and the under- 
ying floor y means of cultures ; napp i teidea as 
‘othe number of individuals that are to be found therein, but 
these results do not in themselves tell us the actual condition 
tthe bacteria—whether the germ life is in an actively vege- 
E ming Condition, or is merely in a quiescent spore stage. _ 
rk. - waters of the globe filled throughout with bacterial 
4 ty activity? Is the ocean bottom peopled with sais 
the “a undergoing their cycles of development, or 1s it merely 
be ne place for the ‘“‘perpetual shower” of organic beings 
ove whose active existence is at an end? 
."€ have determined the presence on the sea bottom of in- 
Pecies, so the most natural inference is that these 
ted to the mud layers must possess the means of 
: their metabolic activity. e 
Whic vege can be approached in two ways. — One a 
the is inferential reasoning and can only be relied fs? 
I$ js Sah of affording a check upon the other a . 
Pear in a uine the number of colonies day by day oe waged 
"eetati ve . Cultures. If the bacteria present are In DO fhe 
liferent gern Pore Stage, the time of incubation before 
wilh. &<'™S develop into colonies microscopically visible 
ive <sc differ ent. Those germs that are already Nee? 
| Sowth hela condition will immediately ee ae 
_ Sted within the most saprophytic species this gig 6 IF 
: With those fo edhe hours from the pee ence : riod of 
P tion a. that are in a resting stage, the al 
BR of thi. A be considerably lengthened. Taking rata 
4 act, we can by counting the number of developing 
