a neiv Species of Foraminifera. 311 



living state under the command of some contractile contri- 

 vance obeying the instinct of the animal. Pedestal hollow, 

 presenting se])tal prolongations of the arenaceous coat inwards 

 from its circumference towards the centre, which they seldom 

 if ever reach, but, extending upwards from the disk, along the 

 dome of the convexity, lose themselves at last in the latter as 

 they approach the round hole leading from its summit into the 

 columnar portion (figs. 5-9). Columnar portion hollow, con- 

 sisting of two or more chambers corresponding with the num- 

 ber of its dilatations {Hi), bound together by isthmic contrac- 

 tions, the last of which terminates in an aperture (^), about 

 4-6000ths of an inch in diameter, at the free end of the column, 

 in the centre of the brush of sponge-spicules. Animal occu- 

 pying the cavity of the test, consisting of semitransparent 

 yellowish sarcode (fig. 11a) charged with granules and oil- 

 globules {h Z>), frustules of Diatomacese, especially il/eZosiVa (d)^ 

 dark-brown bits of fucus, and reproductive cells (c) ; more 

 attenuated and less coloured anteriorly, Avhence the pseudo- 

 podia are projected ; bearing the frustules of Diatomacese 

 and bits of iucus in the centre ; and posteriorly charged 

 with a great number of the reproductive cells, consisting of 

 spherical, transparent, nucleated capsules, otherwise filled with 

 a homogeneous, glairy, albuminous (?) substance. Largest 

 test about 1-1 2th of an inch long ; reproductive cells about 

 2^-6000ths of an inch in diameter. 



Hob. Sea : Laminarian zone ; fixed on the purse-like root 

 of Laviinaria bulbosa, chiefly on and among the rootlets, also 

 on the fronds of Phyllophora ruhens. Often in company, on 

 the former, with Squamulina varianSj Leucosolenia hotryoides^ 

 and Grantia ciliata. 



Loc. Beach at Budleigh-Salterton, Devonshire ; cast ashore 

 by storms. 



Ohs. We are indebted to Dr. Bowerbank for the first de- 

 scription and illustration of this little organism (Phil. Trans. 

 1862, p. 1105, pi. 73. fig. 3 ; repeated in ' Brit. Sponges,' Ray 

 Soc. Pub. 1864, vol. ii. p. 78, pi. 30. fig. 359), who gave it the 

 name of '''' Halyphysema Tiuaanoxjoiczii^'' adding that " it is re- 

 markable for being the smallest British Sponge" (!). But, 

 as mental operations are seldom so correct as visual ones, so 

 our author, who figures the polypes on the cord oi Hyalonema 

 as " oscula" (Brit. Spong. vol. i. p. 287, pi. 35. fig. 374), has, 

 in 1864, also very imperfectly figured this little Foraminiferous 

 animal " as the smallest of British Sponges," for which 

 Schultze had already instituted the genus " Squamidina,^'' ten 

 years previously, viz. in 1854 (op. ck.). I do not, therefore, 

 hesitate to use Schultze's generic name with a new specific 



22* 



