5 
British species of the genus Lagena. 
name of Miliola ficus ] which name had been given to it by M. 
Ehrenberg. Along with these were specimens of Lagena glo- 
hosa (one of the species characterized by an internal tube), to 
which was affixed by Ehrenberg the very expressive name of En- 
tosolenia miliaris ? Hence it was evident that the great Prussian 
naturalist had observed the same peculiarity of structure in the 
species exhibiting the internal tube, and had given to the objects 
characterized by it the very expressive name of Entosolenia, 
which name it is my intention to retain, in separating the exist- 
ing genus Lagena into two distinct groups 
Beyond all doubt, Ehrenberg, MacGillivray and Fleming are 
correct in classing the Lagence near the Foraminifera instead of 
separating them as was done by Dessalines H^Orbigny. Several 
of the species, when mounted in Canada balsam and examined 
under a high magnifying power* as transparent objects, show 
the whole of the calcareous parietes of the cell to be crowded with 
innumerable minute perforations; a structure identical with that of 
Rotalia Beccarii and many other well-known Foraminifera, when 
examined under similar circumstances. Some species exhibit 
traces of much larger foramina ; but whether these are normal 
or have been the result of accident, I am as yet undecided. The 
above fact however is sufficient to prove, that in their external 
microscopic structure there is a close affinity between the Lagence 
and the other Foraminifera. 
As regards the soft animal of Lagena, I have not been able 
to ascertain that anything has been done, or that any one has 
hitherto examined it in a living state. This probably arises from 
the fact that all collectors have obtained their specimens from 
dried sea sand. Still however some little light may be thrown 
upon it from the affinity of these objects to the other Foraminifera. 
Ehrenberg has investigated the nature of the soft parts of some 
of the latter group of organisms with considerable success. He 
considers that each cell of a Foraminifer, except the two first, which 
he found to contain a transparent substance, is filled with two 
differently coloured organs, which he regards as the thick alimen- 
tary canal; and some granular masses, which he suggests may be 
ovariesf. He also found that the animals had the power of pro- 
* One of one-fom'th of an inch focus will suffice. 
t In none of the numerous specimens I have examined have I found 
anything analogous to ovaries. Many of them contain a great ahundance 
of oil-globules, which in the dried specimens become inspissated and hard- 
ened, adhering to the sides of the cells, and which on decalcification pre- 
sent an aspect very like that of ova. I suspect that the small round objects 
found by Dr. Mantell in connexion with the fossilized animal bodies of 
Rotalioi from the Folkstone chalk may be nothing more than these. At 
least they arc undistinguishable from the recent specimens in my cabinet. 
See Philosophical Transactions, Part 4 for 1846, tab. 21. figs. .5, 10 & 11. 
