298 ON THE PORAMINIFERA OF THE KERIMBA ARCHIPELAGO. 



homogeneous, the surface of whose balloon is characterized by 

 a wrinkled dendritic pattern, and the rotalian portion of which 

 is uniformly acervuline instead of rotaline as in the type-form 

 C bulloides. 



The most remarkable phenomenon, however, which has pre- 

 sented itself in the gatherings is that exhibited by certain 

 specimens of Gymhalopora tabellceformis Brady, which have been 

 found in a condition which, so far as our researches go, has 

 never been observed before in connection with any other rhizopod. 

 Certain comparatively large fragments of molluscan shells coated 

 or not, as the case may be, with nullipore corals, we found to be 

 dotted with little pits, some filled and others empty and showing 

 canals radiating from them in all directions. The occupied pits 

 were discovered on examination to be filled each with one 

 specimen of Cymbalopora tabellceforonis which had encrypted 

 itself at an early age and had by some obscure means not only 

 enlarged its crypt to accommodate the growth of its shell, but 

 had excavated tunnels, often exceeding in length many times its 

 diameter, in all directions in the solid substance of the host-shell 

 for the accommodation of its pseudopodia. It can only be 

 assumed that the solvent and assimilative powers of the proto- 

 plasm which enable the animal to secrete the carbonate of lime 

 of which its shell is composed, enable it to dissolve the solid 

 calcareous substance of the host-shell in the manner which is 

 seen in the specimens. The suggestion that the boring of the 

 tunnels and enlargement of the crypt may be effected by the 

 carbonic acid generated by the action of the chlorophyll of the 

 minute symbiotic alga? which are almost invariably found in the 

 protoplasm of this foraminifer, is an interesting and a suggestive 

 one, but it is doubtful whether we have need of this hypothesis 

 to explain the phenomena. 



In conclusion we may say that the outcome of our labours 

 upon this material amounts to over 470 species and varieties, of 

 which 32 are new to science. 



This memoir will be published in the " Transactions " in clue 

 course. 



