126 EAMBLES OF A NATUEALIST. [Oh. VIII. 



were of a rich orange-yellow colour. A more splendid ani- 

 mal I liad never seen, even among this surpassingly beautiful 

 family ; and notwithstanding the unenviable position from 

 which I rescued it, it became quite lively when placed by 

 itself in sea water. It was active and graceful, and lived 

 several days, giving me time to describe and figure it; 

 after which, I gave the little creature an honourable posi- 

 tion in a series of bottles which contained my scientific 

 novelties. 



At the same spot, there came up in the dredge some 

 curious round bodies, which might have been taken for 

 small oyster- shells, but which were in reality of far greater 

 interest. These were members of the family of Fora- 

 minifera — lowly organized creatures, for the most part 

 microscopic, but which in this case were possessed of a very 

 definite size. The greater part of these were Orbitolites, — 

 roimd, button-like, flattened shells, of a most remarkable 

 symnietrical structure, which has been admirably elucidated 

 by Dr. Carpenter. They were J inch in diameter for the 

 most part, and quite white. They consist of a concentric 

 series of alternating cells or chambers, directly communi- 

 cating laterally, and indirectly in a radiating manner. This 

 regularly-constructed calcareous framework is built up by, 

 and is filled with, a sarcodic substance which sends out 

 stolons through all the canals, and ultimately passes out in 

 filaments through a series of pores along the margin, which 

 filaments have the functions of prehension and locomotion 

 combined. 



But besides these comparatively well-known forms of 

 Foraminifera, there were others which are at the same time 

 among the rarest, and are the giants of their tribe. These 

 belong to the genus Cycloclypeus, and became known by 



