REPORT ON THE FOR AMINIFERA . 
511 
four segments, with the normal tubular neck, is first constructed (fig. 19), and subse- 
quently another segment is added. The early segments are less inflated than usual in 
typical specimens, and the supplementary chamber, which is nearly spherical, is separated 
from the rest by the narrow stoloniferous tube. This is a local variety, and may be 
distinguished as Nodosaria scalaris, var. separans. The figured specimens are all from 
one sounding, off the west coast of New Zealand, 275 fathoms where it is tolerably 
abundant. Good examples were dredged by the late Edward Waller on the coast of Kerry. 
Nodosaria scalaris is common on the shores of Norway, Denmark, Great Britain, 
Belgium, and France ; and, though affecting shallow water, has been taken in the North 
Atlantic at various depths down to 1630 fathoms. It occurs in the Mediterranean and 
the Adriatic, off the Cape of Good Hope, and off the coast of Australia ; at seven Stations 
in the South Pacific, 2 fathoms to 580 fathoms ; off the Philippine Islands, 95 fathoms, 
and off the south coast of Japan, 345 fathoms. 
The species is abundant in the Subapennine deposits of many parts of Italy 
(Soldani, Silvestri) ; it has been found in the Tertiary clay of the vicinity of Malaga 
(Jones and Parker), in the Crag of the east of England (Jones, Parker, and Brady), and 
in the Post-tertiary beds of the north-west of Ireland (Wright). 
Nodosaria proxima, Silvestri (PI. LX1V. fig. 15). 
Nodosaria proximo,, Silvestri, 1872, Nodos. Foss, e Viv. d’ltal., p. 63, pi. vi. figs. 138-147. 
Silvestri, whose judgment is entitled, to great respect, treats this little form as a 
distinct and recognisable species, and gives an excellent set of figures in support of this 
view. In some of the Challenger dredgings, notably in the rich coral sand from 
Torres Strait (Station 185), two-chambered costate Nodosarice, having generally a larger 
number of ribs than the figured specimen (PI. LXIY. fig. 15), and corresponding accurately 
with Silvestri’ s drawings, are very common, and no passage-forms connecting them with 
other species have been observed. At the same time it is open to question whether 
morphologically such shells are anything more than arrested specimens of Nodosaria 
scalaris , though perhaps sufficiently restricted and distinct in point of distribution to be 
treated as a local variety. 
Nodosaria proxima occurs off the Azores, 450 fathoms ; off Tristan d’Acunha, 
100 to 150 fathoms ; off Raine Island, Torres Strait, 155 fathoms; off the Philippines, 
95 fathoms ; and off the coral-reefs of Honolulu, 40 fathoms. 
The specimens originally described were from the Subapennine clay of San Quirico 
near Sienna. 
