to the Tubulation in the Foraminifera. 423 



where alone the " puncta " (which are the openings of the 

 ramuli of the large canals forming the plexus) are present and 

 visible. 



With reference to the function of the sarcode of the chamber, 

 all that can be stated at present is that, being for the most 

 part filled with bodies like ova, it is analogous to an ovi- 

 sac, and thus apparently designed chiefly for the purpose of 

 reproduction. 



Thirdly, as regards the Acervuline forms of Foraminifera, 

 in which the chambers are heaped up upon one another as the 

 bulk of the mass increases, although this does not take place 

 with such regularity as in Nummulites, it will be seen that the 

 principle of structure must be the same from the simplest to 

 the most complicated form of Foraminiferal tests : viz. the 

 tubuli must be more or less perpendicular to the walls of the 

 chamber ; and therefore, as the lines of the chambers are neces- 

 sarily continuous from the centre to the circumference, the 

 canal-system cannot interrupt, but must be wholly outside them. 



Thus it follows that the canal-system can never be opposite 

 the ends of the tubuli', for no portion of it can ever be within 

 the chambers, where alone the ends of the tubuli present them- 

 selves, till the latter reach the surface. Yet, on the other 

 hand, the canals may run directly parallel to or across the 

 long diameter of the tubuli at any angle ; but it must be out- 

 side them. No section could ever bring them opposite the ends 

 of the tubuli, if they are not in the chamber. 



Now let us look at the woodcut to which I have referred, 

 and there we shall find the fragments of the so-called " canal- 

 system " (b b) cut across opposite the ends of the tubuli, show- 

 ing that they are on the same plane, whereby they must have 

 been in the chamber, which, as I have shown, is an impos- 

 sibility in Foraminiferal structure. 



I therefore most unhesitatingly state that there is no identity 

 between this selected representation of the so-called "Eozoon 

 canadense " and Foraminiferal structure. Such a relation of 

 " canal-system " to " nummuline tubulation " could not exist 

 in a Foraminiferal test either in theory or fact ! 



Since, then, Dr. Dawson could not see this, I am not sur- 

 prised that he should have stated that Dr. Carpenter had 

 " given a crushing reply " to my objections ; while the amount 

 of knowledge of Foraminiferal structure, both recent and fossil, 

 that is displayed in other parts of his book may suit popular 

 taste, but can hardly call for scientific reply. 



This, however, is the age of wild speculation, and that which 

 is most sensational (alas for Science !) is also most attractive. It 

 puts one in mind of the Hindoo, who considers the simple truths 



