THE DAWN OF LIFE 1 87 



in Fig. 49. In its superposition of many layers, and 

 in its tendency to a heaped-up or acervuline irregular 

 growth it resembles Carpenteria^ Polytrenm and Tino- 

 porns, forms of a different group in so far as shell - 

 structure is concerned. The large and curious sandy 

 Foraminifer from the Pacific dredged by Alexander 

 Agassiz, and named by Goes, Neiisina Agassizii, 

 may also be mentioned as presenting some points 

 of resemblance.^ It may thus be regarded as a 

 composite type, combining peculiarities now ob- 

 served in two groups, or it may be regarded as a 

 representative in the Nummuline series of Polytrema 

 and Tinoporus in the Rotaline series. At the time 

 when Dr. Carpenter stated these affinities, it might 

 be objected that Foraminifera of these families are 

 in the main found in the Modern and Tertiary 

 periods. Dr. Carpenter has since shown that the 

 curious oval Foraminifer called Fusidina^ found in 

 the coal formation, is in like manner allied to both 

 Nummulites and Rotalines ; and still more recently 

 Mr. Brady has discovered a true Nummulite in the 

 Lower Carboniferous of Belgium. This group being 

 now fairly brought down to the Palaeozoic, we may 



1 Bulletin Mus. Comp. Zoology^ vol. xxiii., No. 5, Dec, 1892. 



