BlHLKXlRAJ'IIY. 43 



1879. 



7. W. Pii. ScHiMPER. ZitteVs Handbuch der Palaeontologie ; Part II. Pdlaeo- 



phytolologie, Lief. l,p. 69. 



The genera Dictyophyton and Upiiant^nia are considered under a 

 group of algae termed Dictyophyte^. In regard to the genus Dictvopiiyton, 

 however, the author observed : " This regular lattice-work is so sharply defined 

 and the elevated lines so uniformly straight that such impressions could be 

 left in the rock only by bodies composed of very firm parts. Among living 

 algae there are none w^hich have such a composition. There are indeed very 

 delicate algae which become hardened by calcareous incrustation, but such an 

 ornamentation as this can not be the result of incrustation. 



" The question arises whether we have not here the siliceous skeletons of 

 sponges rather than highly abnormal fomis of algae. We know how regularly 

 the skeletons of the sponges are often constructed, and that a quadrate net- 

 work is not infrequent among them. It is to be farther remarked that, as 

 stated by Hall, no trace of coal on these remains has been observed." 



Similar doubt is expressed as to the algous nature of UpHANT.iENLA.. 



1880, 



8. Ferdinand Roemer. Lethm, Pakfozoica, Erste Lieferun^, pp. 127, 128, 



fig. 3, ami p. 304, fi^- 56. 



Describes the genera Upiiant^nia and Dictyopiiyton, giving a figure of 

 Dictyopliytoii tuberosum from Steuben coimt} . Both are discussed among the 

 fossil algae but are regarded as doubtfully of this nature. On pp. 303, 304, 

 the genus Tetragonis and the species T. MnrcMsonil, Eichwald, T. Danbyi, 

 McCoy and T. Eifeliensis, n. sp. are discussed, the last being illustrated by a 

 fragment of the surface from the calcareous middle Devonian shales of Gerol- 

 stein. The genus is included in the family Receptaculitidce. 



1881. 



9. R. P. Whitfield. Observations on tlie Structure of Dictyopiiyton, and its 

 affinities with certain sponges. (Amer. Journ. Science, vol. xxii, pp. 

 53, 54.) 



Upon comparison of specimens of Dictyophyton which had been described 

 fix)m the sandstones of the Chemung and Waverly groups, with the skeleton 

 of Eupleotella, the author concludes that these bodies are sponges, at 



