EEPTOM ULTISPAHS A . 113 



Type species. R. microstoma (Mich.), i.e. B. diluviana, Edw. and 

 Mich, (non Lamx.). 



Affinities. This genus was founded by D'Orbigny for thick, 

 multilamellar species allied to Berenicea. The division seems to 

 me convenient. The first species included in the five which the 



FIG. 9. Transverse section across part of a zoarium of Reptomultisparsa, sp., 

 showing concentric layers. Inferior Oolite. D. 3. 



author of the genus referred to it, is the I). diluviana, Edw. and 

 Mich., non Lamx. This, however, I regard as the same as 

 Michelin's D. microstoma. 



MacGillivray founded a genus Demipora * for what he regarded 

 as a massive form of Diastopora. The species was described 

 about the same time by Mr. Waters, 2 who rightly referred it to 

 Heteropora. 



It may be questioned whether Reptomultisparsa is worthy of 

 recognition as a distinct section of the TubuliporidaB. Considering, 

 however, how shadowy and uncertain generic characters are among 

 the Cyclostomata, it may be regarded as valid. Young forms are, 

 of course, less massive than adults, and are intermediate between 

 this and Berenicea. In the same way Berenicea can be linked to 

 Proboscina, and Proboscina to Stomatopora, and it could be main- 

 tained that the whole of the Tubuliporida3 ought to be formed 

 into one genus. So long as it is recognized that the genera in this 

 group are of no absolute value, but are only used as a matter of 

 relative convenience, it is wisest to accept them, and Repto- 

 multisparsa has as good a claim to recognition as the rest. 



1 P. H. MacGillivray. On two new genera of Polyzoa : Trans. Roy. Soc. 

 Viet. vol. xvii. (1881) pp. 16, 17, pi., fig. 2. 



2 A. "W. Waters. On the occurrence of Eecent Heteropora : Journ. Roy. 

 Micro. Soc. ser. 2, vol. ii. (1879) p. 392, pi. xv. figs. 9-11. 



