FORAMINIFERA FROM THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND ARCTIC OCEANS. 429 
Appendix IV . — Researches on the North Atlantic Foraminifera , 
by F. L. Pourtales, Esq. 
“ Examination (by F. L. Pourtales, Esq., Assistant in the United States Coast-survey) 
of Specimens of Bottom obtained in the Exploration of the Gulf-stream, by Lieutenants 
Commanding, T. A. M. Craven and J. N. Maffitt, United States Navy,” Report of the 
Superintendent of the United States Coast-survey for 1853; Appendix, No. 30, pages 
82*, 83*, 1854. 
From fourteen soundings off the eastern coast of Florida, and three off Georgia (all 
belonging to the “ Caribbean Province”), Count F. Pourtales obtained results similar 
in a great degree to those of Professor Bailey’s examination of the soundings off New 
Jersey and Delaware (see above, page 423) ; and having soundings from much greater 
depths (150 to 1050 fathoms), he met with a greater predominance of Globigerina?, 
forming, with other Foraminifera, the white mud of the sea-bed ; in one instance Globi- 
gerince and the minute green stony casts of these shells entirely formed the bedf (at 
150 fathoms, lat. 31° 2', long. 79° 35'). At 1050 fathoms (lat. 28° 24', long. 79° 13') 
he found Globigerina and Orbulina, and the so-called Rotalina cultrata , R. Ehrenbergii, 
and R. Bayleyi , with fragments of Molluscan Shells, of Corals, and of Anatifer , as well as 
some Pteropoda; and only about 1 or 2 per cent, of fine sand in the Foraminiferal mud. 
As these soundings are beyond the limits of the “Provinces” that we have to do with 
in the foregoing memoir, we omit the details of the other specimens of the “ Caribbsean” 
sea-bed ; but we remark that the author of this notice refers to former Reports (and 
Proc. Amer. Assoc. Charleston) in which he had intimated that “ with the increase in 
depth — in the greater depths — the number of individuals [of Foraminifera , especially 
Globigerina ] appeared to increase,” having then seen a sounding from 267 fathoms where 
the sand contained 50 per cent, of Foraminifera ; whilst now he found at upwards of 
1000 fathoms Foraminifera with little or no sand. The extension of life to greater 
depths than 300 fathoms (E. Forbes, iEgean, Brit. Assoc. Rep. 1843) is also noticed by 
the author ; but his suggestion, that Globigerina would be found to decrease gradually 
“ for a considerable depth before it should cease to appear,” does not appear to be as 
yet substantiated, since Globigerina holds its own at the greatest depth (2700 fathoms, 
South Atlantic) hitherto experimented upon. He remarks that the Foraminifera 
appear to be fresh in the deep-sea soundings, and probably live at the great depths from 
which they are brought up. 
Note. — Maury has already observed that the bed of the Atlantic at more than two 
miles depth has no sand nor gravel, but consists chiefly of Foraminifera and a small 
number of Diatomacece (siliceous). — “ Sailing Directions,” &c., 6th edit. 1864. 
f To this Professor Bailey refers in his interesting paper “ On the Origin of Greensand and its formation in 
the Oceans of the present Epoch,” Quart. Journ. Microscop. Science, vol. y. pp. 83-87 ; 1857. 
3 M 
MDCCCLXV. 
