— 87 - 
close examination of it after my return to Mauritius, I found 
it to consist entirely of coral debris and Foraminiferous shells. 
The latter requiring a high power of the microscope to deve- 
lope them at all. My instrument only enabled me to see that 
they were shells, but not strong enough to distinguish them, 
so I have carefully preserved the whole to send honu. 
‘‘These delicate shells exist in all the warm seas in the world, 
and those who have never seen them may form some idea of 
their miuute size, when it is stated that ‘‘four hundred thou- 
sand of them have been found in forty six grains Troy of sand.’* 
Yet minute as they are surely and steadily are they filling 
up the depths of the ocean. Tho great Atlantic Tele- 
graph plateau is a bank formed of the dead shells of 
the Foraminifera. The Indian Ocean also swarms with them. 
I have been informed by the captains of our -whalers 
that on the Saya de Mala bauk somewhat to the East- 
ward, they have found soundings, in five fathoms. Near this is 
a noted whaling ground, aud some of tho old sailors who have 
cruised there many years, tell me the bank is gradually rising, 
and the day is not far distant when the sea will break over it, 
and another and dangerous reef be added to the perils of this 
Ocean. It is supposed these Foraminifera feed on the Infu- 
soria which they have tho power of electrifying or paralysing 
by some hidden electric capacity. Thus, these, “ The small- 
est and most microscopic of animals in existence, are unpitying 
flesh eaters, and become formidable destroyers by means of 
a ho uceopathic dose of poison. 
“We constantly saw Frigate birds and others flying to Aga_ 
lega from tho sea to rest for ihe night, and two species of 
Paille en-queue or Tropic bird. This evening a Booby alight- 
ed on the main boom, and one of the sailors crept cautiously 
along it and caught it for me. Wo were steaming and sailing 
along at the rate of 10 knots, the ship rolling much, aud for 
a change the waves dash.-d on to the poop deck where we 
were walking. We retired to the gun deck to chat and smoke 
but old Neptune tried hard to put our pipes out, by sending 
his emissaries thundering in through the ports and we all had 
to bo spry to escape a ducking. 
