FOEAMINIFEEA FEOM THE NOETH ATLANTIC AND AECTIC OCEANS. 389 
in the same latitude on the western shores of Italy and in fossil deposits (formed in 
shallow water) near Sienna ; whilst the same species in the south-eastern parts of the 
Mediterranean has much thicker and more granular varieties than those in the west of 
Italy, and becomes very like the great Botalia Schroeteriana, Parker and Jones (Ann. 
Nat. Hist. 3 ser. vol. v. p. 68, and Carpenter’s ‘ Introd. Foram.’ p. 213, pi. 13. tigs. 7-9). 
As we approach our own shores from the Mediterranean area, Botalia Beccarii 
becomes gradually smaller but is still numerous : to the north it deteriorates more and 
more. 
Botalia Beccarii is rare and small at 78 fathoms on the Irish marginal plateau. 
Botalia Beccarii , Linn., sp., Var. Soldanii , D’Orbigny, sp. Plate XVI. tigs. 31-33 
(North Atlantic). 
This may be described as Botalia Beccarii becoming flush-chambered, conical (flat 
above), with a strong shell: in this form it inhabits deep water, about 100 fathoms 
(from 50 to 300 fathoms). D’Orbigny illustrated B. Soldanii by his Model, No. 36. 
It is the isomorph of Pulvinulina Micheliniana and of Planorbulina ( Truncatulina ) 
refulgens , which are the deep-sea forms of their respective species. 
B. Soldanii is rare and small at 43 fathoms, rather rare and middle-sized at 223 
fathoms, and common and middle-sized at 415 fathoms, on the western plateau. It is 
rare and small at 1776, 2035, 2050, and 2350 fathoms in the abyssal area. 
It is very common in the Mediterranean (at 100 fathoms), and fossil in the Sub- 
apennine clays. Generally it is not so flat at the top as our figured specimens are ; 
but the upper faces of the cells are convex and separated by sulci (see D’Orbigny’s 
Model). 
Botalia Beccarii , Linn., sp., Var. orbicularis, D’Orbigny, sp. Plate XVI. fig. 34 
(North Atlantic). 
This extremely delicate and minute abyssal variety of B. Beccarii is but little removed 
from B. Soldanii ; but it is smaller, and has its upper face still flatter and smoother 
than in B. Soldanii. It is in shape half an oblate spheroid, having the upper side flat, 
the lower forming a low rounded cone. It may be said to be the starved abyssal variety 
of its species. It occurs, but sparsely, in deep-sea soundings in all latitudes — tropical to 
north-temperate ; and it has been brought up from even 1000 fathoms and more, retain- 
ing its exquisite salmon-coloured sarcode. 
D’Orbigny got his specimen, illustrated by Model No. 13, from the Adriatic. 
The best localities for it are the Red Sea, where it has degenerated from B. ornata 
and B. Schroeteriana , and in the Mediterranean area, where it is ancestrally related to 
B. Beccarii. It becomes extremely small, one of the smallest even among starved Fora- 
minifera; and, as such, is very rare at Shetland and in the Irish Sea (Brady). 
In the abyssal area of the Atlantic it occurs very rare and very small at 1950 fathoms. 
3 G 
MDCCCLXV. 
