Mr. J. G. Jefireys on British Foraminifera. 211 



With respect to Dr, Carpenter's idea that they are allied to 

 sponges, I may remark that Polystomella crispa (an elegant and not 

 uncommon species) has its periphery set round at each segment with 

 siliceous spicula, like the rowels of a spur. But as there is only one 

 terminal cell, which is connected with all the others in the interior 

 by one or more openings for the pseudopodia, the analogy is not 

 complete, this being a solitary, and the sponge a compound or 

 aggregate animal. 



I believe the geographical range or distribution of species in this 

 group to be regulated by the same laws as in the Mollusks and other 

 marine animals. In the gulf of Genoa I have found (as might have 

 been expected) species identical with those of our Hebridean coast, 

 and vice versa. 



In common with Dr. Carpenter, I cannot help deploring the ex- 

 cessive multiplication of species in the present day, and I would in- 

 clude in this regret the unnecessary formation of genera. Another 

 Linnaeus is sadly wanted to correct this pernicious habit, both at 

 home and abroad. 



The group now under consideration exhibits a great tendency to 

 variation of form, some of the combinations (especially in the case of 

 MargimiUna) being as complicated and various as a Chinese puzzle. 

 It is, I believe, undeniable, that the variability of form is in an in- 

 verse ratio to the development of animals in the scale of Nature. 



Having examined thousands (I may say myriads) of these elegant 

 organisms, I am induced to suggest the following arrangement : — 



1. Lagena (Walker) and E?itoso/enia (Williamson). 



2. Nodosaria and Marginullna (D'Orb.), &c. 



3. Vorticialis (D'Orb.), Rot alia (Lam.), Lobatulu (Flera.), Globi- 

 gerina (D'Orb.), &c. 



4. Textularia (Defrance), Uvigerina (D'Orb.), &c. 



5. Miliola (Lam.), Biloculina (D'Orb.), &c. 



This division must, however, be modified by a more extended and 

 cosmopolitan view of the subject, as I only profess to treat of the 

 British species. To illustrate MacLeay's theory of a quinary and 

 circular arrangement, the case may be put thus. 





Lagenadae. 

 1 



lO 3- 





The first family is connected by the typical genus Lagena with 

 the second, and by Entosolina with the fifth ; the second is united 



