THE FOEAMINIFERA 



CHAPTEE YII 



THE FAMILY GROMIID^ 



The characteristics of the test in the Gromiid.e are 

 a chitinous or skinHke investment, without super- 

 ficial perforations, and with an aperture for the 

 emission of sarcode either at one end of the test 

 (Section A) or at both ends (Section B). The invest- 

 ment is either thin and closely adherent to the body 

 of the animal, as in Lieherkuehnia, or more rigid, a& 

 in Gromia. In the latter genus it forms a distinct 

 test, whilst in the former genus the covering or mem- 

 brane alters its shape in accordance with the changes 

 in the shape of the body of the animal. The colour 

 of the investment in this family ranges from hyaline 

 to yellowish or light brown, and it is sometimes- 

 encrusted with adventitious particles, such as sand 

 grains or diatoms. 



Many of the lobose and filose kinds of Protozoa 

 are closely allied to members of this family, such as 

 Diffliigia and Eugli/jjha, and the only difference 

 between them, which at the best is slight, is the 

 habit and form of the extended pseudopods, which in 

 the Foraminifera are characterised by their fine 

 threadlike and anastomosing characters. 



No Fossil representatives. 



