ON SOME FOSSILS FROM THE ISLANDS OF FOEMOSA & RIU-KIU. 10 



frequent occurrence in the limestones of many of the islands 

 lying off the eastern coast of the Asiatic Continent, Mr. JSTishi- 

 wada having first recognized it in the rocks of Japan, although 

 Dr. Martin at a much earlier period had reported its presence 

 in the Pacific area, at Timor, New Guinea, Amboina, etc., but 

 under the name of L. Eosenlergi, a form which we now consider 

 structurally equivalent to the ramosissimum of Reuss. The dif- 

 ficulty of defining the species of IÂthothamnium found in a fossil 

 state, has already been alluded to by Solms-Laubach 1 and others 

 so that until the whole subject has been more systematically 

 treated than heretofore, we have thought it advisable to place 

 Martin's name in synonomy. Under Martin's species, also, we 

 ventured to call attention last year to the appearance of this 

 organism in the limestones of northern Formosa. The species is 

 of interest from a stratigraphical point of view, because it is so 

 far known only from rocks of the Miocene Period and probably 

 indicates the middle portion known in Europe as the " Tortonian " 

 stage. 



Occurrence : Species of Miocene age have been recorded 

 from Europe, Timor, New Guinea, Formosa, Japan, etc. ; we have 

 now identified it in the Orbitoidal-limestone of Sonai, Iriomoté 

 Island, Riü-Kiü. 



1. Foesil Botany ly folms-I aula<h; Erglis-h translation by IT. E. F. Gaiîksey, l.sîll 

 p. 45. 



