56 FORAMINIFERA OF THE CRAG. 



and Tertiary fossiliferous clays. It occurs in the Lias, in the Chalk, and in the more 

 recent formations of countries bordering on the Mediterranean. 



Living specimens have been found on our own coast, in the Mediterranean (320 

 fathoms), and in the Indian Ocean (1120 fathoms); but it can scarcely be looked upon 

 as a common recent species. 



Dentalina obliquestriata, Reuss. Plate I, fig. 19. 



Dentalina matutina, D'Orb., 1850. Prodrome Paleont., p. 242, No. 259. 



— OBLiauESTRiATA, Reuss, 1851. Zeitsch. Deutsch. Geol. Gesell., vol. iii, 



p. 63, pi. 3, figs. 11, 12. 



— Geinitziana, Neugeboren, 1856. Denies. Akad. Wien. Math.-Natur. CI., 



vol. xii, p. 91, pi. 4, fig. 15. 



— — Terquem, 1858. Mem. Acad. Imp. Metz., 39 annee, p. 602, 



figs. II «, 6. 



— DivERGENS, Reuss, 1864. Sitz. Akad. Wissea. Math.-Natur. CI., vol. 1, 



1 Abtheil., p. 22, pi. 4, fig. 10. 



Characters. — The same as those of D. obliqua, except that the stiiae, which in 

 B. obliqua are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shell, take an oblique direction in 

 D. obliquestriata. Length ^i^th inch. 



The artificial division which it has been necessary to adopt in reference to the nomen- 

 clature of the NodosariTKB renders the trivial name given by Prof. Reuss applicable as a 

 siibvarietal distinction to the curved (Dentaline) specimens with oblique striae, although 

 as early as 1791 straight (Nodosarian) forms similarly marked were figured by Batsch 

 M'ith the specific name " obliquata!' The straight and the curved specimens have the 

 same kind of costation, and are not really distinct specifically, much less geuerically. 



There have been specimens figured, under various names, in which the oblique striae 

 are interrupted and partial (like those on the congeneric Vaginulince shown by our Plate I, 

 fig. 10). 



Occasional specimens of this obliquely ribbed form are met with wherever Nodosariua: 

 are abundant ; but it is nowhere common, and we are not aware that it has been found 

 in a recent condition. 



