68 Mr. W. Saville Kent on the Foramtmferal 



VIII. — The Forannniferal Nature of Haliphysema Tuma- 

 nowiczii, Boxo. (Squamulina scopula, Carter) ^ demon- 

 strated. By W. Saville Kent, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 



[Plates IV. & v.] 



In the ' Annals ' for January last I discussed at some length 

 the nature and affinities of Prof. Haeckel's newly-instituted 

 group of the Physemaria, an assemblage of organisms em- 

 bracing, in accordance with the views of its talented author, 

 the Haliphysema Tumanowiczii of Bowerbank and the Squa- 

 midina scopula of Carter — two forms, however, which, while 

 generically separated by Haeckel, are now generally admitted 

 to be specifically identical. 



My chief object in the communication referred to was to 

 show that these Physemaria, if structurally agreeing M'ith the 

 figures and descriptions submitted by Prof. Haeckel, must be 

 regarded as simple sponges, the slightly modified equivalent 

 of a single monad-lined chamber or ampullaceous sac of the 

 more complex sponge-forms, — as also that the Squamulina 

 scopula of Mr. Carter, if identical with these Physemaria, can 

 no longer be retained in the class of Foraminifera. On 

 the other hand, I upheld the necessity of accepting Mr. 

 Carter's foraminiferal interpretation of this organism, should 

 a closer investigation demonstrate the absence of those typical 

 flagellate cells or zooids which Prof. Haeckel represents as 

 constituting the inner lining of the several Physemaria he 

 figures and describes. 



In the following (February) number of the 'Annals '.Mr. 

 Carter still more emphatically maintains the foraminiferal 

 nature of his Squamvlina scopida^ and for a second time re- 

 pudiates Prof. Haeckel's soft impeachment as to its affinity 

 with his newly-created Physemarian group. Whether or 

 not the organism encloses collared flagellate monads, Mr. Carter 

 is not in a position to determine ; but, in either case, he insists 

 that the polythalamous character of the test or exoskeleton is 

 alone sufficient to demonstrate its foraminiferal affinities. In 

 the Api-il number of the same magazine the Rev. A. M. 

 Norman has taken up the thread of this disputed relationship, 

 and, as the fortunate discoverer of the most interesting type of 

 the genus, Haliphysema ramulosum, Bow., in addition to 

 being personally familiar with the particular subject of con- 

 tention, H. Tumanowiczii, is in a position to discuss the 

 question with especial authority. Having, moreover, compared 

 specimens of Squamulina scopula, received from Mr. Carter, 

 with Dr. Bowerbank's typical examples of the last-named 

 form, he pronounces the same to be absolutely identical. 



