Carboniferous Foraminifera. By Bev. W. Hoivchin. 543 



Genus Stacheia, Brady. 

 Stacheia moriformis, sp. nov. Plate IX. figs. 19, 20. 



Test parasitic (or free ?) ; globular, subglobular, or, more rarely, 

 elongate or complanate in sbape. Chambers larger than those of 

 allied species, more or less rounded in outline, and often showing a 

 roughly concentric or spiral arrangement of segments around the 

 axis of growth. Chambers of the superficial layer inflated and tumid, 

 raised in hemispherical bosses upon the surface of the test ; walls very 

 thin, often abraded on their convex surfaces so as to expose the darker 

 material filling the interior of the chambers. Diameter of globose 

 examples, from 1/30 in. to 1/25 in. 



This species is pretty constant in character, and cannot well be 

 confounded with any other of the Carboniferous Foraminifera. Its 

 globular form and conspicuously inflated chambers are ready means of 

 identification. It is often impossible in the other members of this 

 genus to mark any superficial indications of the septal divisions, and 

 when distinguished they are made apparent only by a faint areolation 

 or mottled appearance of the exterior surface : but in Stacheia mori- 

 formis the superficial chambers are not unfrequently elevated to the 

 extent of half their diameter. The test is not nearly so compact as in 

 the allied species, and the chambers are relatively larger, whilst the 

 shelly investment is remarkably thin. In this respect, and from a 

 greater or less tendency to a spiral arrangement in building up the 

 test, there is some morphological analogy to the acervuline 

 modifications of Planorhulina, especially when S. moriformis has 

 grown parasitically on a fiat surface ; but the subarenaceous and im- 

 perforate characters of the test show its affinity to be with the 

 Endothyrinae rather than the recent perforate and hyaline forms. 



Distribution. — Stacheia moriformis is not very common in point 

 of number of specimens, but is widely distributed through the 

 Carboniferous Limestones of the North of England. It occurs in fifty- 

 two washings gathered from the following horizons : — First Lower 

 Felltop, Second Lower Felltop, Great Limestone, Four-fathom Lime- 

 stone, and the " D," " E," " G," " J," " N," and " " Limestones. 



Family LAGENIDiE. 



Sub-Family Nodosaringe. - 



Genus Nodosaeia, Lamarck. 



Nodosaria (Dentalina) farcimen, Soldani. Plate IX, fig. 21, a, K 



Amongst the many interesting forms which the " D " limestone 

 has revealed must be included the above species. Its lowest strati- 

 graphical record hitherto known has been the Upper Permian, 

 where it is found associated with several other cognate forms. No 

 unquestionable Nodosarian had been found in rocks older than the 

 Permian. It is, therefore, of some interest to secure examples of this 

 common recent species so far back as the Carboniferous Limestone. In 



