REPORT ON THE RADIOLARIA. 1017 



Blitschli had done in the case of a small number of species, would require several years. 

 I can therefore only give the basis of further researches. 



In the majority of Spyroidea the three essential elements of the Nassellarian 

 skeleton are easily recognisable, viz. : — A, the vertical sagittal ring of the S t e p h o i d e a ; 

 B, the basal tripod of the P 1 e c t o i d e a ; and C, the latticed cephalis of the C y r t e 1- 

 1 a r i a. These three elements are constantly so combined that the primary sagittal 

 ring bisects the cavity of the lattice-shell and produces an external, longitudinal, more or 

 less distinct constriction, separating the lateral inflated halves of the bUocular cephalis; 

 while the three divergent feet of the basal tripod descend from the cortinar or basal 

 plate of the cephalis. The number of the feet is often augmented ; they are rarely want- 

 ing (probably reduced). The sagittal ring is constantly present, though its relation to the 

 shell-wall exhibits many modifications. The bilocular form of the fenestrated cephalis, 

 with its sagittal constriction, is characteristic of all true Spyroidea, and separates 

 them from the Botryodea (with multilobate cephalis) on the one hand, and from 

 the Cyrtoidea (with simple cephalis) on the other. There are, however, some 

 intermediate forms between these three suborders of Cyrtellaria, which show a 

 direct transition to one another. Almost constantly the length of the three dimensive 

 axes in the cephalis of the Spyroidea is so diflerent that the lateral or frontal axis is 

 the longest, the sagittal or dorso-ventral axis the shortest, and the principal or longitudinal 

 axis intermediate between them. As in all dipleuric or bilaterally symmetrical forms, the 

 two poles of the frontal axis are equal, whilst the two poles of the sagittal and of the 

 principal axis are more or less different. In only a few forms of Spyroidea these 

 differences are difiicult to make out ; usually the dorsal side is distinctly difi'erent from 

 the ventral, and the apical side from the basal. A perfect knowledge of the dipleuric 

 shell requires therefore accurate observation from all six sides. 



The suborder of Spyroidea is here divided into four difi'erent families. In the 

 first and original family, the Zygospyrida, the shell is represented by the bdocular 

 cephalis only. The second family, Tholospyrida, is distinguished by a fenestrated cupola 

 or galea, a hemispherical or conical dome, arising from the upper or coryphal face of the 

 cephalis. In the third family, Phormospyrida, a thorax is developed, or a fenestrated 

 basal chamber, arising from the lower or basal face of the cephalis. The fourth family, 

 Androspyrida, combines the characters of the second and the third family, a galea arising 

 from the upper and a thorax from the lower face of the cephalis. 



The bilocular cephalis, as the most important and constant part of the skeleton in all 

 Spyroidea, requires a further general consideration. Its lattice-work, very variable in 

 the numerous species, is usually more or less different on the six sides of the nut-shaped 

 shell. Its most important part is the horizontal basal plate or lower face, and the 

 sao^ittal ring arising from it in the vertical median plane. This part of the shell 

 corresponds exactly to the skeleton of the Semantida, and exhibits the same modifications 



(ZOOL. CHALL. EXP. PAHT XL. — 1886.) Rr 128 



