254 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



worked out. The genus Lagena, while of world-wide distribution 

 and occurring at all depths, presents some rather curious 

 anomalies as regards its occurrence in any abundance. It 

 would probably be almost impossible to make a dredging or a 

 shore gathering in any part of the world without finding the 

 genus represented in the material. But, Mr. Earland said, 

 from practical experience, both of deep and shallow water 

 dredging and of shore collecting, he knew that in one sample 

 the genus may be extremely rare, while in another of similar 

 material taken a few miles away, under similar conditions of 

 depth, the genus may be abundant and varied. The reason for 

 such a difference is obscure, but is possibly based on the pro- 

 portion of mud in the deposit. Legena as a genus is a lover of 

 still and muddy bottoms. Globigerina oozes are, as a general 

 rule, singularly poor in Lagenae : hence the greater wonder at 

 the richness of the fauna in these " Penguin " oozes. Mr. 

 Sidebottorn states that the late Mr. Thornhill had picked out 

 over 12,000 specimens, and had commenced to arrange them on 

 a scheme which he had devised but did not live to carry out. 

 Personally, Mr. Earland said, he regretted that Mr. Sidebottom 

 had not found time or opportunity to use the unique material 

 which came into his possession at Mr. Thornhill's death, as a 

 centre around which to build up a complete monograph of this 

 beautiful genus. Perhaps he may yet find himself able to deal 

 with this task. But, in any case, it is a matter for congratula- 

 tion that Mr. Thornhill's work did not perish and disappear 

 unrecognised on his death, as so often happens when a worker 

 dies, but that his material has fallen into the hands of Mr. 

 Sidebottom, whose beautiful drawings will make it accessible to 

 all interested in the group. 



One of the most noticeable features of this group is the very 

 large proportion of decorated forms. Many of the recognised 

 species are very hard to identify on account of the almost in- 

 finite variety and variation of the minute spines and markings 

 which characterise them. The object of such markings seems 

 to be quite beyond speculation. They are quite invisible to the 

 naked eye, and, unlike the markings of diatoms, do not appear 

 to have any physiological significance. Mr. Earland thought 

 the Club was to be congratulated on obtaining two such notable 

 papers for publication in its Journal, 



