66 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [NoV. 23, 



be able to cooperate with Dr. Dawson and yourself in this develop- 

 ment of my previous researches; but I may venture to add the 

 anticipation that the discovery of Eozoon is the first of many disco- 

 veries in the Laurentian series, which will vastly add to our know- 

 ledge of the primaeval life of our globe. And I am strongly inclined 

 also to concur in the belief expressed by Dr. Dawson in a private 

 letter to myself, that a more thorough examination of some of the 

 Silurian fossils (such as Stromatopora) hitherto ranked among Corals 

 and Sponges, will prove that they are reaUy, like Eozoon and Becep- 

 taculites, gigantic Foraminifera. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES VIII. & IX. 



Illustrating the Structure and Affinities of Eozoon. 



Plate VIII. 



[The figures in this plate are all taken from transparent sections of specimens 

 in wliich the original Shell has been well preserved, and its minutest cavities 

 infiltrated with Serpentine.] 



Eig. 1. Vertical section of regularly stratified portion, showing the ordinarily 

 continuous connexion of the chambers of each stratum: magnified 

 *10 diameters. 



2. Occasional mode of communication between two distinct chambers of 



the same series : magnified 40 diameters. 



3. Portions of two chambers of different layers, showing at «, a the proper 



walls of their chambers, at h, b the intermediate skeleton, and at c, c 

 a stoloniferous passage : magnified 25 diameters. 



4. Portions of the proper wall of the chambers, showing its Nummuline 



tubulation, as seen at a in longitudinal, and at b in transverse section : 

 magnified 100 diameters. 

 6. Sections of intermediate skeleton, showing portions of canal-system of 

 difiierent dimensions, — a, large, b, medium, c, small : magnified 25 

 diameters. 



Plate IX. 



[The figm'es in this plate are all taken from decalcified specimens, and repre- 

 sent the appearances presented by the internal casts of the cavities, tubes, &c., as 

 seen by reflected light.] 



Fig. 1. Portion of chambered layer, showing the continuous connexion of its 

 segments : magnified 10 diameters. 



2. Portion of acervuline structure, showing the irregular connexions of its 



segments : magnified 10 diameters. 



3. Casts of flattened stolons communicating between successive layers of 



chambers : magnified 25 diameters. 



4. Acicular casts from Nvimmuline wall of chamber : magnified 100 



diameters. 



5. Casts of interior of canal-system : — a, portion of large, magnified 25 



diameters ; b, entire group of the same, magnified 10 diameters ; c, 

 medium, d, small, magnified 25 diameters. 



