Algonkian Algce in Permian of England. 201 



places the specimen shown in my figure 3 shows a similar 

 spongoid surface to that of Walcott's plate 12, figures 

 1 and 2, and another specimen in my collection has a 

 distinct tubular type ; the one of which a section is illus- 

 trated in figure 8 resembles considerably the C. spongiosa 

 of Walcott's plate 9, figure 2. 



It seems to me unlikely that anyone who compares the 

 illustrations here mentioned will doubt that the structures 

 from the Newland limestone of western America and 



Fig. 7. — Showing the vertical tubes strongly; seven-eighths nat. size. 



those from the Permian limestone of England are iden- 

 tical in general character, or that they must have had a 

 similar origin. 



It can not be said, because these structures which 

 Walcott has described as pre-Cambrian algSB are also 

 found in the English Permian, that this argues against 

 their being of direct or indirect organic origin. On the 

 contrary, we may well expect similar structures also to 

 occur in post-Algonkian formations, and Walcott directs 

 attention to this possibility, since the blue-green algae 

 still are active as precipitators of lime. However, there 

 are other facts that oppose rather strongly the mode 

 of formation which he has assumed. Personally, I was in 

 the quarries only a couple of hours, and therefore do not 

 feel competent to go fully into the very complicated 

 question of how these very remarkable structures were 

 formed. It is evident, however, from what has been 

 written about them by the English workers, that all who 

 have studied these structures regard them as not having 



