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THE VOYAGE OE H.M.S. CHALLENGER 
Frondicularia alata, d’Orbigny (PI. LXY. figs. 20-23 ; Flabelline variety, PL LXYI. 
figs. 3-5). 
“Nautili caudiformes ,” Soldani, 1798, Testaceographia, vol. ii. p. 13, pi. i. fig. G. 
Frondicularia alata, d’Orbigny, 1826, Ann. Sci. Nat., vol. vii. p. 256, No. 2. 
■ „ „ Parker, Jones, and Brady, 1871, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 4, vol. viii. 
p. 161, pi. x. fig. 66. 
,, alata, var. sagittula, Vanden Broeck, 1876, Ann. Soc. Belg. Micr., voL ii. 
p. 113, pi. ii. figs. 12, 14. 
„ ,, var. lanceolata, Id. Ibid. p. 117, pi. ii. fig. 13. 
,, complanata, var. concinna, Id. Ibid. p. 109, pi. iii. fig. 2. 
The figure in the Testaceographia, selected by d’Orbigny to bear the name 
Frondicularia alata, is that of a short complanate shell, which is very broad near the 
initial end, owing to the arms of the Y-shaped segments reaching back nearly into a line 
with the primordial chamber. The free ends of the segments are irregular, and most of 
them projecting and pointed. The drawing is somewhat rough, but represents in their 
extreme development characters easily recognised in more typical specimens. 
Referring to the illustrations, the two larger figures (figs. 20, 21) represent good 
examples of the species in the adult condition, the free ends of the chambers forming 
a nearly straight line, and one here and there extended into a projecting point. Such 
shells attain large dimensions, the length sometimes exceeding -|th inch (5 mm.). 
Yanden Broeck ( loc . cit.) gives an excellent series of drawings, representing individual 
modifications of the species rather than distinct varieties. 
In the immature or arrested stage the outline is less angular, and the test assumes 
the more or less ovate contour displayed in figures 22 and 23, resembling in this respect 
the typical Frondicularia complanata of Defrance, as depicted by Blainville (Mala- 
cologie, pi. vi. figs. 4, 4a). 
Amongst the West Indian specimens there are a considerable proportion of dimorphous 
shells (PL LXVI. figs. 3-5), which, had they been found alone or in different company, 
must have been classed as Flabellince. Excepting the inequilateral growth of a few 
of their earlier segments, a feature in which no two of them are alike, they agree in every 
respect with the more typical specimens ; indeed it is perfectly evident, when a number 
are examined together, that they are mere anomalous individuals of the same species. 
The distribution of Frondicularia cdata as a recent Foraminifer, so far as at present 
known, is limited to a few localities. The Challenger collections furnish specimens from 
off Culebra Island, 390 fathoms, and off Bermuda, 435 fathoms ; and those recorded by 
Yanden Broeck were from near Barbados, 84 fathoms (100 brasses). The habitat given 
by d’Orbigny, both for Frondicularia alata and Frondicularia rhomboidalis (Modele, 
No. 3), is the Adriatic ; and some years ago Dr. Tiberi of Portici sent to me for identifi- 
cation some fine recent examples of both of these species, found in shore-sand from near 
Magnisi, on the east coast of Sicily. 
Soldani states that fossil specimens occur in the Subapennine Tertiaries near Sienna. 
