14 
CRETACEOUS CILIOPODA 
parvis elorgatis, apertura minima rotundata instructis, earumqne ovicelhdis breviter 
Jlagellaiis, ad basim osiioltm sp)aciosum elongate triangularem gerenlibus. 
Tliis form is readily distingiiislicd from all other known cretaceous species by 
the shape of the aperture, which is regularly sickle-sha])ed, surrounded hy slightly 
thickened margins, and hy the peculiar form of the slitters, these being small, 
elongated, and provided with a minute roiurded aperture, while thou’ ovicells are 
almost flagellate and with a much larger’, suh-triaugular opening. The cells are, 
when Avell preserved, slightly convex, ovate, being narrower at the base, somewhat 
irregularly punctated and separated from each other by narrow smooth sulci, which 
in very old cells become less distinct, or almost obsolete. The ovicells partly cover 
the base of the succeeding cells ; they are semiglohose, smooth, provided with a 
ratlrer large, transversely elliptical opening, situated just above the upper lip. The 
margins of that opening appear to have been very thin, and are easily broken off, 
in consequence of which the size of the opening is very variable. 
Sometimes the ovicells do not appear to become developed, and in tliis stage 
the species closely resembles Cell. hippocrep)is of Goldfuss from Maastricht, but the 
cells want the semiovate raised rim, which in the latter species surrounds the upper 
portion of each cell. {See fig. 5 on pi. i). 
‘^Vhen old colonies become much worn off, the upper surface of the cells is 
nearly flat, or even a little concave towards the aperture, and the boimdaries between 
the cells are almost raised instead of depressed. In this stage the species closely 
resembles Eschariuella discot's, n. sp. {vide p. 18). 
Localities. — North of Poodoopolliam and at Chokonadapooram, incrusting 
Oysters and Terebratiilce. 
Formation. — Arrialoor group. 
II. ESCIIAEA, Ray, 1724, (see p. 7). 
1. Eschara optabilis, Stoliczka, PI. I, Pigs. C-7. 
Esch. ranudis aid rotundatis aid modice explanatis foliaceisque ; cellulis elongate 
siih-hexagonis, Uecigatis, convexiuscidis, sulcis angiistis simplicibus separatis ; aper- 
tura fere antica, rotundate snb-qiiadrangulari, margine vix incrassato circumdata. 
Fissoribiis parvis, sub-ovatis, hasi Jlexuose attenuatis, apertura sub-centrali, elongatim 
acute eliptica instructis. 
Eragments of stems are either cylindrical, in which case they might be referred 
to Hellers’ Ruskea, or they are more or less expanded and foliaceous. The cells are 
very simple, elongately sub-hexagonal, slightly convex, entirely smooth, and uithout 
any accessory pores. The aperture is roundly sub- quadrangular. The slitters are 
of moderate size, narrowly and somewhat flexuously elongated at the base, and 
provided with an acutely elliptical sub-ccntral aperture. 
Locality. — Ootacoil, in a pink limestone. 
Format ion. — Arrialoor group . 
( 48 ) 
