348 Dr. G. C. Wallich on the Coccosphere. 



to tropical or subtropical seas. I propose to name it after Mr. 

 Carter, Coccosphtera Cartern. 



The following are the characters of the two species : — 



Genus Ooccosph^ra (Wall.). 



1. Coccosphcera pelagica (Wall.). 



Cell spherical, hyaline, with a distinct membranous wall. 

 Cell-contents, a perfectly colourless glairy protoplasm. Cocco- 

 liths generally more or less elliptical, numbering from 16 to 

 36, arranged side by side, and, in the normal state, not over- 

 lapping. Central aperture of Coccolith single, margin of ex- 

 ternal disk finely and radially striate. Internal disk plain. 



Diameter of Coccosphere ranging from ^(/oo ^^ F^j ^^ 

 an inch. Length of Coccoliths from 90^5 to yoW ^^ ^° 

 inch. 



Habitat. Free-floating, Indian Ocean and North Atlantic j 

 and (dead) in North Atlantic muds. Always most abundant 

 where the GlohigerincB are in greatest profusion, and the de- 

 posit of the purest kind. 



2. Coccosphcera Cartern (Wall.). 



Cell oblong. Long diameter about twice that of short dia- 

 meter. Cell as in C. pelagica. Coccoliths varying in number 

 from 16 to 38, more or less oblong, with two central apertures 

 arranged lengthwise, margin finely and radially striate. In- 

 ternal disk plain. Length of Coccosphere from y-oVo ^^ 800 

 of an inch. Length of coccolith from sq'oo ^^ ToW ^^ ^^ inch. 



Habitat. Free-floating, Indian Ocean, and Mid-Atlantic. 

 (N.B. I have not observed any intermediate form between the 

 spherical and oblong.) 



It only remains for me to add, that I have not referred in 

 the course of the preceeding observations to the highly im- 

 portant researches of Sorby, Oscar Schmidt, Haeckel, Giimbel, 

 and others, simply because my own inquiries have been di- 

 rected principally towards an aspect of the subject upon which 

 they have hardly touched at all — my object having been to 

 sustain the accuracy of my own observations, not to question 

 that of others. 



Note on Gromia. I hasten to correct an oversight on my 

 part, which I have at all events the satisfaction of knowing 

 has been shared by Dr. Carpenter and other writers. 



Since the publication of my paper " On Gromia as the type 

 of Foraminiferal Structure" ('Annals' Feb. 1877), I have 



I 



