180 



Dr. Carpenter's Preliminary Report [Dec. 17, 



species; and the remaining 10 per cent, partly of Siliceous organisms 

 (Diatoms and Polycystina), partly of mineral fragments, and partly of 

 the very minute granular bodies designated by Prof. Huxley Coccoliths. 

 These granules he described as apparently consisting of several concentric 

 layers surrounding a minute clear centre, and looking at first sight some- 

 what like single cells of the plant Protococcus ; but as they are rapidly 

 and completely dissolved by dilute acids, their composition cannot be 

 organic. With reference to the question whether the Globigerince actually 

 live at these depths, Prof. Huxley says, "The balance of probabilities 

 seems to me to incline in that direction. And there is one circumstance 

 which weighs strongly in my mind. It may be taken as a law that any 

 genus of animals which is found far back in time is capable of living 

 under a great variety of circumstances as regards light, temperature, and 

 pressure. Now the genus Globigerina is abundantly represented in the 

 Cretaceous epoch, and perhaps earlier " (op. cit. p. 67). 



The results obtained by Prof. Bailey and Prof. Huxley, in regard to the 

 prevalence of Globigerince over a large part of the sea-bottom in the North 

 Atlantic Ocean, were confirmed and extended by the observations of Dr. 

 Wallich, made during the voyage of the s Bull-dog' in 1860 ; and as he was 

 able to examine the condition of the Globigerince when freshly brought up, 

 his testimony furnishes au important corroboration of Prof. Ehrenberg's 

 conclusion. " The Globigerince " he says *, " have never been detected 

 free-floating in any number in deep, or forming deposits in shallow 

 waters ; a considerable proportion of those met with in deep-sea deposits 

 exhibit every appearance of vitality ; and their maximum development is 

 associated with the presence of the Gulf-stream, but only through the 

 operation of collateral conditions prevailing at great depths below the 

 current itself." But in addition, the ' Bull-dog ' sounding-line brought up 

 a cluster of Ophiocomce attached to a portion of it which had lain on the 

 bottom at a depth of 1 260 fathoms ; and Globigerince were found, with other 

 matters, in their stomachs. Further, in various localities, at depths ranging 

 from 871 to 1913 fathoms, tubes of small Tubicolar Annelids were brought 

 up ; and some of these were found to be composed of Globigerina-sheWs 

 cemented together, whilst others were made up of an admixture of Sponge- 

 spicules and minute Calcareous de'bris. Lastly a living Serpula, Spiro?-bis, 

 and a group of Polyzoa were brought up from a depth of 680 fathoms, 

 and a couple of living Amphipod Crustacea from a depth of 445 fathoms. 

 " Taking into consideration the arguments adduced to prove that the con- 

 ditions which prevail on the deep-sea bed are not incompatible with the 

 maintenance of animal life, and the extreme improbability that the crea- 

 tures heretofore discovered at great depths are merely exceptional or acci- 

 dental examples, it will, I think, be conceded that the presence of a living 

 Fauna in the deeper abysses of the ocean has been fully established" f. 



Dr. Wallich's just conclusions have not by any means commanded the 

 * The North-Atlantic Sea-Bed, p. 147. t Ibid. p. 148. 



