1869.J 



Fauna of the Deep Sea, 



61 



its thick arenaceous test is exactly the same as that of the test of the 

 Lituola found on the same bottom ; but its cavity is undivided, and there 

 is no proper orifice, the pseudopodial extensions having apparently found 

 their way out between the sand-grains that formed the termination of the 

 radiating extensions or digitations. — The Genus Saccamina (Sars) is cha- 

 racterized by a very regular spherical test, built up of large angular sand- 

 grains strongly united by ferruginous cement, which are so arranged as to 

 form a wall-surface well smoothed off externally, whilst its interior is 

 roughened by their angular projections. The cavity is undivided, and is 

 furnished with a single orifice, which is surrounded by a tubular pro- 

 longation of the test, giving to the whole the aspect of a globular flask. 



The family Miliolida, consisting of Porcellanous-shelled Foraminifera, 

 was represented at the depth of 530 fathoms by a Cornuspira foliacea of 

 extraordinary size; and at the depth of 650 fathoms by a series of Bilocu- 

 lina> of dimensions not elsewhere seen except in tropical or subtropical regions. 



Of the family Globigerinida a considerable number of forms presented 

 themselves ; but with the exception of the ordinary Globigerina and Orbu- 

 lina, these were not remarkable either for number or size. The Globi- 

 gerina-mud brought up in large masses by the Dredge, exhibited the same 

 composition as had been previously determined by the examination of Sound- 

 ings ; but it included a large amount of animal life of higher types, whilst 

 it seemed everywhere permeated by the protoplasmic Bathybius of Huxley, 

 as described in the Author's " Preliminary Report." The Globigerince vary 

 enormously in size ; and the Author gives reason for the belief that this 

 variation is not altogether the result of growth, but that many small as well 

 as large individuals have (speaking generally) attained their full dimensions. 

 He describes the sarcodic body obtained by the decalcification of the 

 shell ; and discusses the question whether (as some suppose) Orbulina is 

 the reproductive segment of Globigerina, as to which he inclines to a 

 negative conclusion. He describes the curious manner in which the shells 

 of Globigerince are worked-up into case3 for Tubicolar Annelids ; of which 

 cases several different types presented themselves, the Foraminiferal shells 

 in some of them being combined with sponge-spicules. — A remarkably fine 

 specimen of Textularia was met with alive, of which the porous shell was 

 encased by sand-grains ; this being laid open by section showed the sar- 

 codic body of an olive-greenish hue, corresponding with that of the 

 Lituolce and Astrorliizce also found alive. — Several Rotaline types pre- 

 sented themselves sparingly in the Globigerina-mud, which are specially 

 characteristic of the Cretaceous Formation. 



The family Lagenida was represented not merely by its smaller forms, 

 but also by a large and beautiful living Cristellaria, that closely corre- 

 sponds with one of the forms described by Fichtel and Moll from the 

 Siennese Tertiaries, whilst even exceeding it in dimensions. 



These results conclusively show that reduction in the Size of Foraminifera 



