Afonthly Microscopicall 
Journal, May 1, 18G9. J 
Parheria and Lofhisia. 
301 
The specimens of Farheria which have heen collected by- 
Professor Morris* are spheres varying in diameter from about 
f ths of an inch to about 1^ inch. The character of their external 
surface differs considerably in different individuals ; but the author 
gives reason for believing that it was originally tuberculated, like a 
mulberry, and that the departures from this have been the result of 
subsequent abrasion. The entire sphere is composed of a great 
number of concentric layers, all of which, except the innermost, 
are arranged with very considerable regularity around a central 
" nucleus," which consists of five chambers, disposed in rectilineal 
sequence ; thus unmistakably indicating the Foraminiferal character 
of the organism, which might otherwise have remained in doubt, on 
account of the entire divergence from any known type presented in 
the structure of the concentric layers. The first of these layers is 
moulded, as it were, on the exterior of the nucleus, and partakes of 
its elongated form; but the parts of every additional exogenous 
layer are so arranged as to bring about a gradual approximation to 
the spherical form, which is afterwards maintained with great con- 
stancy. Each layer may be described as consisting of a lamella of 
" labyrinthic structure " (that is, of an assemblage of minute cham- 
berlets or cancelli, whose cavities communicate freely with one 
another), separated from the contiguous lamellae by an "inter- 
space," which is traversed by *' radial tubes " that pass from each 
lamella to the one external to it. All these structures, in common 
with the chamber- walls and septa of the " nucleus," are built up 
by the aggregation of sand-grains of very uniform size. These 
sand-grains are found to consist of Phosphate of lime, and they 
seem to be united by a cement composed of Garhonate of lime, which 
was probably exuded by the animal itself. Although there is a 
very general uniformity in the thickness of the successive layers, 
the proportion of their several components varies considerably in 
different parts of the sphere. In those which immediately surround 
the nucleus, the solid lamellae, which are composed of labyrinthic 
structure, are comparatively thin ; whilst the " interspaces " which 
separate them from one another are very broad, so that the " radial 
tubes " which traverse these interspaces are very conspicuous. As 
we pass outwards, we find the " labyrinthic " lamellae increasing in 
thickness, whilst the breadth of the interspaces diminishes in the 
same degree, until we meet with layers in which the " interspaces " 
* Since this Memoir was completed, the Author has learned that Mr. Harry 
Seeley of Cambridge has collected several specimens of this type, and has beeii 
studying it independently with a view to publication. And Mr. Henry Woodward 
has placed in his hands a specimen from the Upper Greensand in the Isle of Wight, 
which is not less tijan 2| inches in diameter. It is interesting to remark that the 
" nucleus of a smaller specimen from the same locality consists of a considerable 
number of chambers arranged in a spire ; the structure of its concentric spherical 
layers being exactly the same as in the specimens described in the text. 
Y 2 
