WCP2042

[1]

Hillfield,

Gateshead.

Dec^r: 20: 1880.

My dear Wallace,

There are one or two little matters in your remarks upon Globigerina (Island Life¹ — p. 90 etc) that seem to require comment.

I have been somehow unfortunate in the paper you quote, for I seem to have indicated rather more than what is set down, which was not my intention. Two or three of my friends have alluded to my summary of the arguments for and against the view that all globigerinae at all times live an exclusively pelagic life as embracing conclusions, whereas I only intended it as an interim statement of the case so far as I know the facts, to draw from those who constantly [2] asserted this view without ^giving either arguments or data. I am still working on this subject and though I am bound to say I as yet see nothing to alter materially the general aspect of the case as laid down & much to confirm it — still I should not like to announce any positive conclusions in a matter so full of difficulty.

You somewhat misquote me in one important particular — respecting globigerinae on our own shores — I speak of "Areas at which Globigerinae are found to a greater or less extent at the bottom" (p. 82 of my paper — bottom lines) —

You say- 'not far from our own shores globigerinae are abundant in bottom dredgings’ — Now so far as I know Globigerina is not abundant anywhere near our own coast — it exists to a greater or less extent wherever you get beyond 50 or 60 fathoms — but you must get into deeper water before it becomes [3] an important constituent of dredged muds.

There is another little matter. If you will refer to the Annals Nat. Hist. for June 1878² — p. 429 — you will see that in the very northernmost of the soundings taken of the North Polar Expedition — Lat. 83° 19' N. I speak of "Foraminifera the most abundant being a dwarf variety of Globigerina" — You know they had to cut through thick ice to make this sounding. — Thus though "they flourish most in warm seas" they are not “rigorously limited to warm areas".

My Kind regards to Mrs Wallace³ | —

Ever yours | vy truly | Hry B. Brady.⁴ [signature]