64 Mr. H. J. Carter on the close Relationship of 



of minute Foraniinitera and rounded objects which might be 

 confounded with the proper surface-elevations. But wliile 

 the sections show that the surface was an irregularly undu- 

 lating one, it also seems to show that the bosses for the most 

 part originated from the accidental incorporation of a larger 

 foreign body than the animal was accustomed to enclose. 



AVith reference to the icscmlAcincc oi Ah-eolina meandrina 

 to Lojiusia, as stated in my paper in the ' Annals' (1876, 

 vol. xvii. p. 192), that can only be taken now for what it is 

 worth. The former is undoubtedly a species of Foraminifera, 

 the latter not. 



As in Parkeria, there are many foreign bodies to be observed 

 in the test of Loftiisia^ probably arising from its unfixed 

 habit in the bottom of the sea, where it would be constantly 

 rolling about in contact with small objects which it might 

 thus incorporate during growth, after the manner of Sponges 

 under similar circumstances. Indeed, as many specimens of 

 Parkeria present foreign nucleiform portions which are filled 

 with sea-bottom onli/, so does Loflima ; and not only this, but 

 in some instances, both in Parkeria and Loftusia, there are 

 parts of the tissue-fibre structure which are almost obscured by 

 the quantity of foreign material (sand, &c.) incorporated with 

 it during growth. 



While, then, there can be little doubt that Loflusia was no 

 more a species of Foraminifera than Parkeria, there may be 

 doubt as to the nature of the substance of which the test was 

 foiTued, since I see no means at present of determining 

 whether this was calcareous or chitinous, from the metamor- 



f)hosis which the original structure has undergone by crystal- 

 ine infiltration. 



Finally, although it has been stated that Loftibsia cannot be 

 considered a species of Foraminifera, it should be remembered 

 that its spiral structure is so much like one that it seems to 

 indicate a close relationship between the Rhizopoda and the 

 Hydrozoa, ex. gr. Amoeba and Hydra. 



? Brady a tergestina, Stache, MS. 



We now come to a fossil (from the Lower White Chalk of 

 Dover) which forms an important link in our series, since it 

 not only presents the coenosarcal stolon-tubulation of Hydrac- 

 tinia echinata on its surface, but the tissue-fibre of Parkeria 

 throughout, and the vein-like stellates wliicli are so characteristic 

 of the Stromatopora. It belongs to tiie British Museum ; and 

 through ^Ir. II. Woodward's kind help, I am enabled to give 

 the following description of it. 



