84 



strong probability this tbis species occurs as a Silurian fossil, 

 as Messrs. Nicholson and Etheridge, in their monograph on the 

 Silurian fossils of G-irvan, in Ayrshire, have described a 

 tubular organism which Mr. Brady considers to be none other 

 than the species now under consideration. Its simple structure 

 gives probability to its being an archrean type, and the wide 

 distribution of the form at the present day shows it to be 

 capable of a ready adaptation to varying conditions. Its 

 obscure character and close resemblance to other zoological 

 tvpes may be the reason why it has been completely over- 

 looked as a geological species until recently. 



(?) Thitrammina pcqyiUata, Brady. — Tliurammina is a new 

 genus founded by Mr. H. B. Brady to include some single 

 chambered and arenaceous Foraminifera which usually show 

 more or less perforated papilla? on their exterior surfaces. Thi^- 

 species is often spherical, but is subject to great variation in 

 outline. In the Hergott material there are a few spherical and 

 arenaceous Foraminifera which we have referred to this genus. 

 The papillfe are not very well defined in the examples I have 

 obtained, but they show a pimpled surface suggestive of 

 papillcT. Their less perfect appearance may be caused by the 

 compression to which these, as well as nearly all the species^ 

 from. Hergott, have been subject. More perfect specimens 

 might indicate that these forms belong to some closely-allied 

 genus, but for the present they may be classed with some re- 

 serve as above. Tliurammina papilJata, like Hyperammina 

 vagans, is a denizen of all seas at the present day where deep 

 water occurs, but is not often found at less depths than 50C> 

 fathoms. Dr. Haeusler found this species associated with 

 Hyperammina vagans in the Jurassic rocks of Switzerland, 

 alreadv referred to, and it is rather curious that a similar 

 assumed companionship in these two genera should have oc- 

 curred in the case of South Australian palaeontology. 



^eopliax scorpiurus, Montfort. — The genus Reophax, as now 

 defined by Mr. Brady, includes all the free, non-spiral, and 

 non-labyrinthic LituoJce. The general characters of the genus 

 are a coarsely arenaceous test, with a single inflated chamber, 

 or a number of such chambers strung together in a series, which 

 may be either straight or crooked. Reophax scorpiurus is so 

 named from its supposed likeness to a scorpion, having a 

 tapering and often upturned end. It is represented in the 

 Hergott material at three distinct horizons, all under 200 feet. 

 It is by no means a common form in any of the washings, being 

 more generally represented by its starved variety, R.fusiformis, 

 to be referred to presently. In existing seas E. scorpiurus 

 is widely distributed, and generally pretty common where it 

 occurs. ' It has an equally wide bathymetrical range, and seems 



