CLASSIFICATION OF THE BRACHIOPODA. 81 



The Anomites striatus of Martin is the true type of Spirifer, since its remarkable 

 spirals induced Sowerby to found the genus. ^ Dalman, in 1 827 or 1828,^ from mere caprice, 

 altered the names of several of Sowerby's genera : for Spirifer he proposed to substitute the 

 term. DeUIiT/r is, which was adopted by some few, but it is now almost entirely abandoned. 

 Prior to Dalman, Kcenig had proposed the name Trigonotreta^ and Fischer de Waldheim 

 that of Choristites,^ for species agreeing with Sowerby's type; both are consequently 

 synonyms. Professor M'Coy's geims Martinia was proposed for those species in winch the 

 hinge line was shorter than the loidth of the shelly and dorsal edges of the cardinal area 

 obtusely rounded with a smooth surface, and small spiral ajjpendages ;^ but the length of 

 the hinge line is so very variable, even in specimens of the same species, that on such a cha- 

 racter it seems very unsafe to found a genus ; the species are also both smooth and plicated 

 and the disposition of the spiral appendages does not appear to be distinguishable from 

 that of other Spirfers. It will, therefore, be preferable to postpone the adoption of the 

 section Martinia until some more tangible differences can be pointed out. 



1 A difference of opinion having arisen, as to the type of Sowerby's genus, it may be remarked, that 

 in 1814 the author first called attention to the internal organisation of An. striatus, in a paper read 

 before the Linn. Soc, and published in vol. xii, p. 514, of its transactions: the author likewise adds, 

 "I suspect An. cuspidatus figured since the reading of this paper as Sp. cuspidatus ' Min. Con.,' tab. 120 



may have a similar construction within, as well as An. subconicus of Martin, tab. 47." 



This subsequent remark published in the same year as the generic description in the 'Min. Con.,' 1815, 

 denotes that the author looked upon A. striatus as the type, and not cuspidatus, of whose internal 

 character he was not quite certain. Not being acquainted with these facts. Professor King in his ' Mon. of 

 English Permian Fossils,' ui'ged the adoption oi S. cuspidatus, as the type of Sowerby's genus, and to employ 

 the term Trigonotreta, proposed by Kcenig in 1825, for shells similar to S. striatus; but the learned 

 professor now abandons that view and admits S. striatus as the type of Sowerby's excellent genus Spirifer. 

 Professor M'Coy has justly pointed out the fact above noticed, in his ' Synopsis of Carb. Foss. of Ireland,' 

 p. 135, 1844, for when describing Spirifer striatus, he adds, " This shell is very well known on the continent 

 as the species in which Mr. Soiverby first discovered the spiral appendages.'" While publishing my report 

 on the Lamarckian species of Terebratula, I was enabled to prove that Ter. spirifera (Lamarck) was a 

 synonym of An. striata of Martin, nor does the celebrated French naturalist omit to remark in the sixth 

 volume of his 'An. sans Vert.,' p. 257, 1819, that "Mr. Sowerby V a distinguee comme genre." The 

 nature of the spiral processes has been much misunderstood : the celebrated author of the ' Mineral 

 Conchology' believed tliem to be cartilaginous tubes ; and, at a more recent period. Prof. M'Coy contended 

 that they could not be the labial arms, and described them as " cardinal teeth," giving at the same time a 

 woodcut, in which they are turned the wrong way in the shell. Syn. Carb. Foss. Ireland, p. 127, 1844. 



2 Petref. suecana (Proc. R. Acad. Sc, Stockholm, 1828). 



3 Icones Fossilium Sectiles (cent, prima) 1825. 



* Notice sur le Genre Choristites ; Moscow, 1825. 



^ Synopsis of the Carb. Lime Foss. of Ireland, p. 139, 1844. Professor M'Coy introduces a woodcut, 

 No. 22, illustrating his idea of the proportions of the spirals, and which are stated to be so small as only to 

 occupy the rostral half of the shell ; and again, in another work on the ' British Pal. Foss. in the Camb. 

 Museum,' p. 192, 1852, the same author states the spiral appendages to be very small, but it so happens 

 that I have never been able to find a single specimen out of the great number of Martinias which have 

 passed through my hands, exhibiting such small spirals as described by the learned author. 



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