360 FORAMINIFERA 



addition of a new character, a primitive form is under obser- 

 vation. In the microspheric form which shows several stages, it 

 may be safely assumed that they are taken on in the order in 

 which they once developed, and that they represent more primi- 

 tive genera which are already known or are to be looked for in 

 either the recent or fossil series. A classification built on this 

 basis, as is the one here, must be close to the truth of the actual 

 development of the different groups. 



A closer understanding of the results of the trimorphism must 

 lead to a simplification of our treatment of species. It is very 

 evident that it is unsafe to describe a species entirely from the 

 megalospheric form even though that may be the more common 

 one. Sections should be obtained, if necessary to know whether 

 the worker is dealing with a microspheric or a megalospheric 

 form that he may search his material for the microspheric form 

 if he does not have it. It will undoubtedly be possible to unite 

 species under a single name where they now may be placed as 

 different species and under different genera. This task of sim- 

 plification and grouping together of forms does not mean that 

 there are not very many species and genera of the foraminifera, 

 but that the known facts of development have not been taken 

 into account in naming forms or in grouping them. 



