298 Prof. P. M. Duncan on the Syrmgosphcendce. 



spongia'^) and Prof. Rupert Jones, F.E..S., marked it years 

 ago with Parkeria ? It has the shape of one of that last group, 

 and the external mamilliform ornamentation also. Stoliczka 

 felt disposed to place the fossils amongst the Corals. 



Having had careful radial and tangential slices taken from 

 four differently ornamented specimens, and having examined 

 the eleven very fine forms, I find that they are not Crinoids, 

 Corals, Sponges, or Foraminifera. 



The fossils are calcareous ; they present no trace of having 

 been attached during life ; they are nearly spherical and sym- 

 metrical, and, in some instances, more or less oblately sphe- 

 roidal. They are from one to three inches in their greatest 

 diameters ; and their state of preservation is wonderfully per- 

 fect. On the surface are more or less rounded or verruciform 

 elevations, and sometimes limited depressions resembling large 

 pores ; and these may be on or between the elevations, ov 

 generally distributed. 



The whole surface is composed of a close reticulation of 

 minute tubes, of the openings of tubes on the surface, and of 

 interspaces between the tubes. Within, the fossils consist of 

 congeries of tubes -^^ to ywso inch, in limited radial groups, 

 separated by an interradial structure composed of a reticula- 

 tion of inosculating tubes, of which some of tlie tubes on the 

 surface are the representatives. 



The tubes in the radial series, form very numerous cones, 

 the apex being central and the base on the surface of the 

 fossil, usually, but not invariably, corresponding with an emi- 

 nence. The interradial tubes may be close or wide apart j 

 and they are derived from the radial sets by lateral branching. 

 The walls of the tubes are composed of opaque, granular, 

 irregular, semi-spiculate-looking, and very minute particles of 

 carbonate of lime ; there are no diaphragms. There is no 

 intertubular structure or skeleton or coenenchyma. The spaces 

 between the tubes are filled with calcite ; and the same mineral 

 is in the tubes. 



The course of the radial tubes is sometimes straight, and 

 they bifurcate over and over again ; but usually they bend 

 suddenly repeatedly and then pursue a straight course. The 

 pores have a tube or tubes ai'ound their margin, and some 

 openings of tubes on their floor ; they are not always present ; 

 and sometimes they relate to the radial and at others to the 

 interradial sets of tubes. They appear to be conditions of 

 growth. 



The genus Syringosphcera has eminences and pores on its 

 surface, and the radial and interradial systems of tubes, and 

 no intermediate skeleton or labyrinthic system. Probably 



