530 Mr. J. Murray on Oceanic Deposits examined 



deepest trawlings have very frequently small branching tubes, composed 

 of clay and sandy particles, running over their surfaces. These belong 

 to a Hhizopodal organism. The sarcode which fills these tubes contains 

 many large brown pigment-cells, and small bioplasts are collected in 

 clumps at distances along the length of the tube, or are scattered 

 throughout it. 



Tubes of a similar nature, but composed of pieces of Globigerina, 

 Badiolaria, &c, would appear to be rather abundant on some of the 

 oozes, and to run irregularly over the bottom. 



In the clays we always get some arenaceous forms of Foraminifera 

 when there has been a successful haul with the trawl. Their shells are 

 made up of pieces of manganese, clay, and small mineral particles, and 

 they contain the same kind of sarcodic substance as the tubes above 

 referred to. 



An attached calcareous form (c. f . Oarpmteria) has been found in rather 

 deep water, and Biloculinas, Nodosarias, Triloculinas, and other forms 

 have been frequently procured alive. These last have orange-coloured 

 pigment-cells, in which respect they resemble surface E-hizopods. A 

 living specimen of Orbulina or Globigerina undoubtedly from the bottom 

 has not yet been met with. 



In the early part of the cruise many attempts were made by all of the 

 naturalists to detect the presence of free protoplasm in or on the bottoms 

 from our soundings and dredgings,but with no definite result. It was 

 undoubted, however, that some specimens of the sea-bottom preserved in 

 spirit assumed a very mobile or jelly-like aspect, and also that flocculent 

 matter was often present. 



Mr. Buchanan determined that the flocculent matter was simply the 

 amorphous sulphate of lime precipitated by spirit from the sea-water *, 

 Subsequently a number of experiments were made upon the behaviour 

 of this amorphous precipitate when precipitated with different quantities 

 of spirit and when treated with colouring-solutions. The precipitate 

 was also examined alone and mixed up with some of the ooze. The 

 ooze was examined at the same time, and in the same manner, but with- 

 out having been treated with spirit. The results were shortly these : — 

 When sea-water is treated with twice its volume of spirit or less, 

 nearly the whole of the amorphous precipitate assumes the crys- 

 talline form in a short time. 

 When treated with a great excess of spirit the precipitate remains 



amorphous, and assumes a gelatinous aspect. 

 This gelatinous-like sulphate of lime colours with the carmine and 

 iodine solutions, and when mixed with the ooze has, under the 

 microscope, the appearances so minutely described by Hackel. 

 The ooze washed with distilled water, or taken just as it comes up, 

 and treated in the same manner with colouring- solution, does not 

 * See Mr. Buchanan's report. 



