20 
Legg on Sponge Sand. 
By means of the third gauge of wire-gauze, specimens of 
Peneroplisy and smaller specimens of Orbiculina, were brought 
together, with other species of Foraminifera of considerable 
variety of beauty and form, the result here obtained being 
very decided and characteristic of particular species ; for, 
although the quantity retained after this process was compara- 
tively small in relation to the original mass, yet the specimens 
were such as to afford an ample reward for the time and 
trouble incurred in obtaining them. 
But the most surprising result was obtained by using the 
next quality of wire-gauze (that of 70 wires to the inch), the 
amount retained being much larger in quantity, and the pro- 
portion of shells to sand and other debris being such that 
sliders mounted indiscriminately from it yielded several very 
good objects in every instance. 
From the above samples I was enabled to select, without 
difficulty, shells for microscopic observation ; in the first two 
by the naked eye, and in the latter by using a hand magnifier, 
and removing them with the moistened point of a camel's-hair 
pencil. 
The remaining portion of sand, forming probably 19-20ths 
of the original mass, will contain, as may easily be imagined, 
a very small comparative quantity of shells ; but, nevertheless, 
it must not be thrown away. I again passed some of it 
through a gauze of 100 wires to the inch : the sample then 
retained yielded a fair quantity of shells by washing it in 
water, and thus other species characterized by their size were 
brought out by adopting the following process : having selected 
a dish of sufficient size and depth, and spread at the bottom 
of it a quantity of the sand, as much water was poured on it 
as would cover the whole to the depth of half an inch ; after 
allowing the floating particles to settle, the dish was slightly 
raised at one end and gently agitated, so as to produce little 
eddies in the water. In a short time it was observed that small 
channels were formed in the sand of a whiter aspect than the 
other portions ; allowing the water to settle gradually, the dish 
was slowly tilted at one end until the surface of the sand was 
exposed : the whiter particles being then carefully removed by 
means of a cameFs-hair pencil, they were found to consist 
almost entirely of very minute shells ; and the process being 
repeated a few times a large amount (microscopically speak- 
ing) was obtained for future examination. 
In connexion with this subject I may venture a few remarks 
upon collecting, mounting, and viewing specimens of the Fo- 
raminifera as far as my experience has enabled me to speak. 
When about four years ago I was staying at Weymouth 
