NOTES ON RETICULARIAN RHIZOPOD4.. 3S 



largest specimens have been found in dredgings from 300 to 

 500 fathoms. 



Hyperammina ramosa, n. sp. PL III, figs. 14, 15. 

 Characters. — Test free ; consisting of a subglobular pri- 

 mordial chamber with a tubular extension. Tubular por- 

 tion branched; relatively wide at its commencement, but 

 narrowing as it becomes divided. Texture usually loosely 

 arenaceous ; exterior rough, often beset with sponge-spicules. 

 Length indefinite. 



This organism, though manifestly allied to the typical form 

 last described, difi'ers from it in several important particulars. 

 The test never attains the same dimensions as the larger 

 examples of Hyperam7ni7ia elongata. The texture is gene- 

 rally coarse, and the surface is commonly rough, or even 

 hispidjwiththe sand-grains and partially incorporated sponge- 

 spicules used as building material. Instead of tapering 

 uniformly from the rounded end, the test is constricted near 

 its commencement, so as to form a more or less bulbous pri- 

 mordial chamber. The tubular limb issuing from this is 

 branched instead of simple, Avide at first, but narrowing as it 

 becomes more and more divided. The finer ramifications are 

 exceedingly thin and fragile, and it is impossible to say what 

 length they may attain. 



The distribution, both geographical and bathymetrical, of 

 Hyperajjimina ramosa is very similar to that of H. elongata 

 already described. The two species are very often, though 

 by no means invariably, found in the same batches of 

 dredged material. Fragments of delicate branching 

 arenaceous tubes belonging to this or some analogous form 

 are exceedingly common in deep-sea material, though they 

 often cannot be identified with certainty. 



Hyperammina vagans, n. sp. PI. V, fig. 3. 



Characters. — Test more or less adherent ; consisting of a 

 spherical primordial chamber opening into a long, usually 

 unbranched tube, of nearly even diameter, sometimes par- 

 tially free, but commonly spreading in irregular tortuous 

 lines over the surface of shells, stones, or other foreign bodies, 

 the open unconstricted end of the tube serving as the general 

 aperture. Walls thin ; texture finely arenaceous ; surface 

 smooth but not polished. Colour brown, the primordial 

 chamber usually of darker hue than the tube. Length 

 indefinite. 



In some areas the fine arenaceous tubes of this or other 

 similar Rhizopod are found to a greater or less extent on 



VOL. XIX. NEW SER, C 



