ON FOSSIL POLYZOA. 185 
Polyzoa. In America, Stomatopora and Proboscina are found in the 
Trenton rocks, and are also abundant in the ‘ Cincinnati group’ of Ohio. 
“With the above the Rapalonaria of Mr. Ulrich (‘ Journal of Cincin. Soe. 
Nat. History,’ April 1879) may be temporarily placed. We have no 
Rapalonaria, however, in our British Palzozoic rocks. 
Ascopictyon, Nicholson and Eth. jun. 
The genus Ascodictyon was originally founded by the authors for 
‘anomalous types’ of fossils found in the Devonian rocks of America, 
and in the Carboniferous Shales of Scotland. By my own investigations 
I have been able to extend the range of some of the forms that were 
originally placed under the genus, to the Wenlock Shales at least. Sub- 
ject to future correction, I think I have sufficient evidence to prove that 
Stomatopora dissimilis, Vine, is the mature form of Ascodictyon radici- 
forme, Vine ; and because of this I associate this genus with the other two 
to form the family Stomatoporide.! 
I have previously drawn attention to Proboscina (‘ Third Brit. Assoc. 
Rep. on Foss. Polyzoa,’ 1882), and, although some authors regard it as of 
generic value, I think that it will be safer to allow the species that have 
heretofore been placed as Proboscina (fossil types at least) to fall under 
Stomatopora. (For remarks on recent species see Hincks’ ‘ Brit. Marine 
Polyzoa,’ vol. i. pp. 436-7). D’Orbigny’s Filesparsa incrassata (‘ Pal. Fr.’ 
loc. cit. p. 817) is in all probability, says Mr. Hincks, the same as Smitt’s 
Stomatopora incrassata (‘ Brit. M. Poly.’ p. 437). 
Gen. Char.— Organism composite, adherent ; composed of calcareous 
cells or vesicles, the walls of which are perforated by microscopic foramina, 
but which possess no single large aperture. The cells united by short 
tubular necks, or disposed in clusters and connected with one another by 
hollow filamentous tubes.’—H. A. Nicholson and R. Etheridge, jun. (op. 
cit. p. 463). 
Wenlock Shales. A. stellatwm; var. siluriense, Vine. Shropshire. 
3 A. radiciforme, Vine. . 
+ A. filiforme, Vine. » 
Middle Devonian. A. stellatwm, Nich. and Eth. jun. Ontario. 
” A. fusiforme; ” ” ” 
Carboniferous. A. radians, if o Scotland. 
ss A. stellatum, ,, », or var. aa 
Stomaropora, Bronn. 
(See Hincks and Busk for Synon. &c.) 
Zoariwm repent, adnate or free at the extremities, giving off erect 
processes (Proboscina); simple or branched; branches more or less 
ligulate. Zoccia in great part immersed, arranged in a single series, or 
in several, which take a linear direction, or are very slightly divergent.’— 
Hincks, p. 424. 
‘ Silurian Uniserial Stomatopore and Ascodictya, Quart. Jour. Geo. Soc., Nov. 
_ 1881. Wenlock Polyzoa, ibid. Feb. 1882. 
? Thid. 
