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facts, I desire to do justice both to Sir James Ross, who unquestionably
perceived the full force of Sir John Ross’s researches, and to Mrs. Somerville,
who, in defiance of the unbelief of “ naturalists and geologists,” recognized the
all-pervading principle of life where its presence had been so long and so
obstinately repudiated.
In the portion of this work specially devoted to the history of the Rhizo-
pods, I shall have occasion to state in detail my reasons for differing, on
many very important points, from an authority to whom all who have studied
the minute forms of the animal and vegetable kingdoms must look up with
deference. At present I would merely observe that, whilst I am fully convinced
of the vitality of the organisms to which Professor Ehrenberg refers, even at the
extreme depths at which they are occasionally found, I cannot for a moment
subscribe to the opinion that such ritality is demonstrated, as he most distinctly
asserts it to be, by the presence of the soft parts contained within their shells.
There are several strong collateral reasons for assuming that they normally live at
the bottom; but when all these are added together, it still remains impossible to
say that the fact is fully substantiated. I t is far from improbable that the only
absolute proof by which the question can be determined may yet be obtained—
namely, that which would be afforded by distinct vital movements in the organisms
after reaching the surface. For, if it is possible for creatures of a much higher
type of structure to retain their vitality (as I shall presently show to be the case)
after being brought up from equally vast depths, we are fully justified in
assuming that creatures of such a simple type as the Foraminifera and Poly-
cystina may retain their vitality under similar circumstances. I f we turn to the
evidence afforded by the fossil forms of these lower organisms, we find abundant
reason for believing them to be fitted to undergo, with impunity, changes in
the conditions by which they are surrounded far greater than could be borne by
organisms of a higher order. Thus, it is weU known that they command not
only a much wider geographical range, both as regards recent and fossil forms,
but that species living at the present day extend back to periods infinitely more
distant in the world’s history. But, whatever degree of probability may attach
to the opinion that the Foraminifera and Polycystina of the soundings live and
multiply at the depths from which the sounding-machine occasionally brings
them, we must never lose sight of the fact that between probability and proof
there is a wide difference, and that, whilst the one may be said to be established
on much stronger grounds than that adduced by Professor Ehrenberg, the other
still remains to reward some patient labourer in the domain of microscopical
natural history.
The presence of the sarcode, apart from other evidence, proves nothing
beyond the powerful preservative effects of sea-water, surcharged, under a stupendous
pressure, with its saline constituents. I have at the present time Foraminifera
obtained, in a living condition at a depth of 100 fathoms, five years ago.
These are, as a matter of course, dead; yet they retain their sarcode unchanged
in quantity, in bulk, and in colour, and differing only from recent living sarcode
in a somewhat diminished degree of viscidity. The pure Globigerina-deposits ot
the North Atlantic, obtained a year and a half ago, in like manner retain their
sarcodic contents equally unchanged. I t is highly probable, for reasons hereafter
to be adduced, that these also were alive when taken at the bottom; but it is
equally certain that they are dead now, and that they have been so, at all events,
since a very brief period after they quitted their native element. I t is necessary
to mention these circumstances, inasmuch as Professor Ehrenberg has not only
based the vitality of the Foraminifera, Polycystina, and Diatomace« on this
single character, but has maintained that ritality has been retained by some of
these organisms for several years, during which they had been preserved in
closed bottles.
In a paper communicated to ‘ The Annals and Magazine of Natural History,’
in 1844*, “ On Various Materials obtained from the Residue of Melted Pancake-
ice in the South Polar Regions,” the statements on these points are so remarkable
and explicit that it is necessary to quote them. After giving a list of
“ Siliceous Polygastrica” (Diatomace^ and Polycystina), “ Siliceous Phytoli-
tharia” (principally Sponge-spiciiles), and “ Calcareous Polythalamia” (Foraminifera),
it is stated that, “ In several forms of the genus Coscinodiscits their
green ovaries were recognizable; consequently they must have been alive.” And
again, with reference to the residue of another specimen of similar material from
those regions, containing “ Siliceous Polygastrica and Siliceous Phytolitliaria,”
Professor Ehrenberg says, “ These and the former specimens were sent over in
* “ On Microscopic Life in. the Ocean at the Sonth Pole,” by Professor Ehrenberg, ‘Annals and
Magazine of Natui'al History ’ (London, 1844), vol. siv. p. 169 et seq.