44 Dr. G. J. Hinde on Radiolaria from the 
four primary radial spines, some with, some without an inner 
or medullary test, are also common (PL III. fig. 6, PL IV. 
figs. 2, 4-7, 9-11) ; the structure of these appears to be uni- 
formly of the irregularly reticulate or spongy character. The 
spines in some of these shells are of unusual length (PL IV. 
figs. 2, 9), but it is very rare to meet with specimens in which 
they all remain intact. There are also a few specimens with 
lattice tests and numerous smaller spines (PL IV. fig. 1) 
included in the well-known recent genus Acantkosphcera , 
Ehrenberg, and others with larger spines (PL III. fig. 11, 
Pl. IV. fig. 8) which I have referred to Haliomma . 
In addition to the above, mention may be made of some 
peculiar spicules (woodcut, p. 56, 7, l ) of the same general 
characters as the Beloid forms already referred to, which seem 
to correspond to the spicular skeletons of some existing 
Radiolaria, which are regarded by Haeckel as the simplest 
and most primitive types of the great primary division of the 
Nassellaria, in which they form the distinct suborder Plec- 
toidea *. The spicules in question consist of a variable 
number of simple or branched arms or rays proceeding from 
a centre ; the rays may be either free or connected by irregular 
fibres with each other. Spicules of this type are rare and 
not often entire, and their true position is not altogether free 
from doubt. 
These Palaeozoic Radiolaria, so far as can be judged from 
their present condition, do not differ in any striking respect 
from the existing forms of the group or from those numerous 
fossil ones which have been lately described by Dr. Rust f 
and others from Jurassic and Cretaceous strata. Some of the 
more peculiar forms with one or with three primary radial 
spines bear a close resemblance to specimens figured by v. 
Dunikowski J from the Lower Liassic strata of Schafberg, in 
the Tyrol. The detached spicules of the Beloidea have like- 
wise been noticed by Rust in the Radiolarian Jurassic strata 
of the continent. The quantity of this ancient chert which 
has as yet been examined is too small to permit of any general 
deductions as to the characters of the Radiolaria contained in 
it ; but it is noticeable that so far, if we except the few 
spicules doubtfully referred to the Nassellarian Plectoidea, the 
forms belong to only two divisions of the Spumellaria, the 
Beloidea and the Sphseroidea ; and there is an apparent 
absence not only of the discoidal and elliptical forms of the 
* Chall. Report, pt. ii. p. 899, pl. xci. 
t ‘ Palaeontographica,’ Bd. xxxi. (1885), Bd. xxxiv. (1888). 
X Denkschr. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Wien, Bd. xlv. (1882), pp. 187, 188, 
Taf. v. tigs. 53-55, 59. 
