Knowlton — Problematic Organism from the Devonian. 205 



of tine calcareous grains. ... It can scarcely be anything 

 else than a Rhizopod, probably allied to the modern Saccam- 

 mina glooosa, or to the Carboniferous S. Oarteri, though 

 much smaller than either, and differing in its tendency to 

 external ornamentation. It is, of course, possible that a test of 

 this kind might belong to an animal of very different charac- 

 ter from Saccammina, but in the present state of knowledge 

 of such forms, I think it quite justifiable to refer it to this 

 genus." 



In a note appended to the above article (1. c, p. 8), Daw- 

 son says, " In a letter just received from Mr. H. B. Brady, he 

 says that he knows of no rhizopod test, recent or fossil, 

 precisely corresponding to the little Erian fossil above de- 

 scribed. He says — ' the more I examine your little fossil the 

 more confident I am that it bears no relation to any rhizopod 

 type that I know.' It will then be seen that he does not ad- 

 mit its affinity to Saccammina and that he even doubts as to 

 its rhizopodal character." 



I am not aware that any further examinations have ever been 

 made of these Kelley's Island specimens by Dawson. 



After submitting the specimens and drawings from the Falls 

 of the Ohio to Dr. A. Nordstedt, the distinguished Swedish 

 authority on Characece, Dr. Allen writes : * " After repeated 

 investigations, comparisons, and correspondence, we must come 

 to the conclusion that the little seeds you sent me are Fora- 

 minifera and not Chara. I enclose Dr. Newberry's decision in 

 the matter. There are two distinct features about this matter, 

 which cannot be overlooked. The first is that these bodies are 

 very uniformly diffused through the rock ; this certainly would 

 not be the case were they seeds of any Chara. The second 

 point is that these rocks were formed under a considerable 

 depth of salt water. Now while some species of Chara are 

 known to inhabit salt water, they are as a rule, found near the 

 mouth of large streams and are not found in any great depth 

 of salt water ; indeed, Chara will not grow out of the reach of 

 sunlight, and ten to fifteen feet in depth is the limit of growth 

 in Chara." 



Dr. J. S. Newberry, as referred to above, is of the opinion 

 that these organisms are unquestionably identical with the 

 Saccammina of Dawson. He suggested that they be sub- 

 mitted to Mr. H. B. Brady, of London, the well-known au- 

 thority on the Foraminifera. This was accordingly done, and 

 from him the following reply has been received :f " I am duly 

 in receipt of your letter, enclosing specimens and drawings. 

 The minute spiral organism sent is not altogether unknown to 

 me. I do not in the least believe it to be Foraminiferal. In 



* In Litt., June 20, 1888. f In Litt., July 2, 1888. 



