Stromatoporoids and Eozoon. 345 



and cons of the opposing views, apparently inclines to a 

 belief in the mineral theory, and demands, in view of the 

 antiqnity of the rocks and the changes to which they have 

 been subjected, the clearest possible evidence of organic 

 structure before accepting- the theory of the organic nature of 

 Eozoon. 



I consider that the sections made by the late Dr. Carpenter 

 yield abundant evidence of organic structure. 



Eozooyi canadense is a Foraminiferaii. Its calcareous 

 skeleton shows clearly the Foramiuiferal structure of pores 

 and tubuli, and, further, chitiuous rings and coils are present. 

 Dr. Carpenter's specimens must have died, peacefully on 

 the Lower Laurentian sea-bottom, and have been buried and 

 slowly metamorphosed by infiltration, but in such a way as 

 to preserve a good deal of their structure. Possibly igneous 

 irruptions may have occurred later within varying distances 

 of the dead specimens, leading to varying degrees of mineral- 

 ization. I suppose the tiieory of the mineral origin of 

 Eozoon is due to the existence of much metamorphosed 

 specimens. 



Fortunately Dr. Carpenter had several very fine examples 

 of Eozoon in his magnificent collection [now in the British 

 Museum, Nat. Hist,). About the time of his death he was 

 engaged in writing a monograph which would have finally 

 settled the whole question. A friend of mine who- knew 

 him tells me that Dr. Carpenter could scarcely listen with 

 patience to the arguments of the mineralists, and I can 

 appreciate this attitude when I look at his beautiful sections. 

 Sir AV^illiam Dawson, too, had occasion to resent the charge of 

 " subjectivism " brought against him by an upholder of the 

 mineral theory. 



Sir W. Logan "^ was the first to notice the resemblance of 

 Eozoon to the Stromatoporoids. 



The recent Foraminiferan Po^ytrema e(/Undricum, Carter, 

 recalls in certain respects both Beutricea and Eozoon. Tin's 

 pretty little branching- Foraminifeian, of a brilliant yellow or 

 red colour, has a surface-layer of large chambers, but at the 

 same time the central axis of the branches is occupied with a 

 smaller vesicular tissue. A tiansverse section of Beatricea 

 has somewhat the appearance of tliat of a megalospheric 

 Foraminifei>an. 



Li the Stromatoporoids and Eozoon there is a many- 

 chambered (Polythalamous) calcareous skeleton with tlie 

 walls of the chambers penetrated by fine tubuli. Altered 

 chitinous hoops and coils are found in the c'omniunication- 



* Logan, W., ' Geology of Canada,' 18G3, p. 19. 

 Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 8. Vol. x. 24 



