838 Mr. H. B. Brady on Ellipsoidina, 
absence, in short, of every mark that would indicate the plu- 
rality of chambers, are characters which accord well with those 
of Oolina, whilst those of Ellipsoidina have their origin, as we 
may readily understand, in the arrangement of the chambers. 
_ “Jt must still be noted, however, that this genus presents 
certain peculiarities altogether dependent on the disposition of 
the various portions of the shell. In general the chambers of 
a multilocular shell are in direct communication with each 
other by means of apertures or pores variable in size and form, 
so that each cell opens into the interior of that which imme- 
diately follows it.. This is not the case in Hllipsoidina, the 
cells of which have no apertures; and should a perforation be 
found in the base of the tube at the anterior portion of each 
chamber, this is not in communication with the succeeding ones, 
whilst the extremities of their tubes are adherent to the ante- 
rior portions of the enveloping chambers. 
“ Distribution——The three species of Ellipsoidina, that up 
to the present time I have been able to observe, belong to the 
Miocene epoch, and appear in the marls of many localities 
around Messina, and not far distant from it.” e1y 
Then follow the descriptions of three forms differing in little 
beyond the mere variations of external contour indicated by 
the trivial names assigned to them—Z. ellipsoides, E. oblonga, 
and EH. abbreviata. 1 gather, from a letter received but lately 
from Prof. Seguenza, that he has abandoned this subdivision, 
a conclusion in which, judging by analogy, I should entirely 
agree; so that it is needless to repeat the details of their sup- 
posed differences. The precise localities given are, for the 
first-named (typical) form, the beds in the neighbourhood of 
Scoppo, Gravitelli, Scirpi, and §. Licandro, in all of which 
places it is very common, and those of Masse, in which it is 
rare. The second form is stated to be found near Seirpi, 
Scoppo, and Masse, but always rare; and the third at Scirpi 
and Scoppo, likewise uncommon. 7 
The genus may be regarded, therefore, as represented by 
one species only, having the following characters :— 
Ellipsoidina ellipsoides, Seguenza. 
Shell oval, oblong or subspherical ; posterior extremity rounded, 
anterior more or less obtuse, sometimes terminating in an 
elongate tube-like process, which is either cylindrical or 
somewhat obconical. Chambers numerous (two to five). 
Colour white, opaque; young and small specimens sub- 
hyaline. Surface smooth. Length => to +; inch, 
