70 BULLETIN 16 5, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Gabb and Horn, 1862, indicated clearly the differences from their 

 Escharipora abbottii " with cellules resembling Escharipora abbotti 

 in form, this species can be distinguished by its being encrusting, by 

 the greater size of the mouth and the fewer special fossettes." 

 These differences clearly visible on the figures are important enough 

 to justify the creation of two species. However, Ulrich and Bass- 

 ler, 1907, joined the two species under the name of fifembraniporella 

 abbotti in the belief that M. marginata was the encrusting form of 

 M. abbottii. Lang, 1922, does not think their assumption to be cor- 

 rect and again separates the two species. Ulrich and Bassler still 

 not having discovered encrusting forms of D. abbottii with 

 bilamellar expansions now abandon their former belief. 



Under the circumstances D. marginata must remain a distinct 

 species still not rediscovered. 



Occurrence. — Vincentown limesand : Very rare at Mullica Hill, 

 N.J. 



GENERAL REMARKS ON THE CRIBRIMORPHS 



The structure of the Cribrimorphs results really only from the 

 manifestation of a single phenomenon, the fusion of the areal and 

 distal spines of Membranimorphs combined often with epicalcifica- 

 tion. But this simple phenomenon has engendered a great number 

 of bizarre and fantastic combinations, and their study is therefore 

 extraordinarily difficult. Among the bryozoologists, Jullien first and 

 Lang in 1922 have taken up their detailed investigation, and Lang 

 has produced a most comprehensive work but at present it appears 

 to us that he multiplied the families and genera needlessly and that 

 he forgot that a natural classification must be established on a study 

 of all the characters observed. We think he was wrong to change 

 the accepted terminology so severely and to adopt such highly tech- 

 nical terms. However, it must be remembered (1) that the Recent 

 Cribrimorphs are poorly studied, and no one has found in their 

 zoological structure the indispensable characters for comparison; 

 (2) that they are very fragile and often altered by fossilization, 

 and (3) that they are rare, and in order to preserve the studied 

 specimens it is rarely possible to make the necessary dissections. 



We feel that Lang's work is really masterly and indispensable to 

 the student. Jullien and he are the only authors who have under- 

 stood and interpreted the many fantasies of the Cribrimorphs. Lang 

 has accomplished an enormous task not only in deciphering the in- 

 numerable enigmas that their skeletal development presents but 

 also in describing the species and preparing the diagrams and superb 

 figures. In our opinion, it alone is quite sufficient to establish his 

 renown as a great naturalist. 



