NODOSARIA. 



recognize in them distinctly the characters of such shells 

 as belong to the class of Cephalopoda ; but we do not 

 entertain the same confidence with respect to the numerous 

 Genera of minute organiaed bodies (which have usually 

 been arranged among the Cephalopods, and which Lin- 

 neans class with Nautilus and Serpula) which abound in 

 the sand of the sea shore; most of which appear to us 

 to be very little understood, and many of which may be 

 only the divided portions of other creatures or their ova. 

 For these reasons we do not intend to enter upon the 

 illustration of these microscopic beings in this work; if 

 we should ever obtain distinct demonstrations of their 

 nature, and it should otherwise appear desirable, we shall 

 most probably give a short treatise especially devoted to 

 them. 



The Nodosariae are straight, multilocular shells, 

 divided by numerous transverse septa, which septa are 

 perforated by a central or lateral siphuncle. They abound 

 in the sand at Rimini, and in many other places, and are 

 found fossil in the subappenine tertiary beds. 



