166 THREE CRUISES OF TIIE * BLAKE." 
One of the most variable foraminifers is Vodosaria radicula 
(Fig. 504), an Atlantie species of wide distribution. 
It is known by innumerable specific names, and 
the list of its varieties, as given by Dr. 
Goés, fills no less than ten quarto pages, 
these varieties representing all those 
possible combinations of smoothness, 
roughness, and striation of the test, or Fig. 504 
in the shape of the chambers, which Nodosaria ra- 
seemed important to their deseribers. dewa ^f. 
In many other species, also, names have E 
been multiplied indefinitely. A species widely 
spread, both over the coralline bot- 
tom and ooze, is Nodosaria com- 
munis (Fig. 505), which attains a 
size of 22 mm. It closely resem- 
bles one of the cretaceous species, 
and dates back to the permian. 
From the same bottom comes the 
diminutive Cristellaria crepidula 
Fig.505. (Fig. 506), remarkable for its beau- 
Roi ei pearly shell. The West Indian 
communis. n r 
8. (Goös) Specimens of Cristellaria calcar 
(Fig. 507) fully equal in size those Fig, 506.— Cristel- 
from the chalk and tertiaries. laria Con. 
Closely allied to the Nodosarine is Sagrina — *' - 
dimorpha (Figs. 508, 508 «), abundant in the ooze. It attains 
Fig. 507. Fig. 508. Fig. 508 a. Fig. 509. 
Cristellaria calcar. 4). Sagrina dimorpha. $. (Goés.) Polymorphina ovata. 
(Goés.) 49. (Brady.) 
a size of 4 mm. in length. Living specimens of Polymorphina 
ovata (Fig. 509) have been obtained by the “ Blake” and 
* Challenger " in the Caribbean district. 
