Y. The organic ingredients of the samples. 



An account of the third characteristic feature of samples 

 is still wanting, viz. their organic contents; but whereas these 

 contribute in the highest degree to the character of samples 

 generally the case is quite different in the samples now under 

 discussion, they being almost devoid of organisms. This fact 

 may arise from one of two causes, either that inorganic ingre- 

 dients have been deposited in uncommonly large quantities or 

 that remarkably few organisms live in these waters. Probably 

 both factors worked in concert. The result is that only in 

 comparatively few of the samples have organic remains been 

 found, and these belong to comparatively few groups of animals 

 viz. bivalves, echini, sponges and foraminifera. 



The bivalves have been found only in very small numbers 

 namely one whole bivalve with both shells M in No. 18, and a 

 few small indeterminable fragments in No. 19. Both have a 

 certain interest in that I hey were found at greater depths than 

 those at which these animals can have originally lived, viz. at 

 124 and 159 D. fathoms, and must therefore like the bivalves 

 and snails mentioned by J e n s e n ^) , serve either as a proof 

 that the sea-floor was formerly situated at a higher level than 



') Aslarte crenata, Gray; determined by Jensen. 



') Om Levninger, af Gruridvaiidsdyr etc. Vid. Medd. Nal. Foren. 1900, p. 229. 



