GO 
CRETACEOUS SPOXGIOZOA & EORAUINIEERA 
SipnoKiA PIRIFORMIS, Goldf. PI. XII, Figs. 1 — 2. 
1826. Goldfuss, Petrsef. Genn., I, p. 16, pi. vi, fig. 7. 
1871. Geinitz, Elbtlialgebirge iu Sai-hsen, part I, Untercr Quacler., p. 38, pi. 9, figs. 1 — 14. 
One of tlic three specimens found in India is almost regularly pear-shaped, 
broadest near the upper end, -which is deprcsscdly convex; a few protuberances on the 
peduncle indicate that it had been ramilied towards the base, somewhat as in 
Michelin’s* figure of a specimen from Rouen. The circumference of the upper 
side is roundly ovate, and the width of the cavity is nearly one-fourth of the longer 
diameter. The canals on the upper side are, as usually, thin and anastomosing, 
disappearing towards the periphery. The openings at the outer surface are ovate, 
about one mm. long and from one-half to three quarter mm. broad; the finely 
porose interspaces generally being from one to one and a quarter mm., sometimes 
more, but transversely rarely exceeding two mm., while, when the surface is some- 
what worn off, the openings of the canals become longitudinally confluent, forming 
more or less deep furrows. 
The internal structure, as seen on a polished section, is quite irregularly inter- 
Avoven, rather largely cellular and traversed by the larger canals, issuing from the 
axis. 
Tavo other Indian specimens are shortly pedunculate, Avith a AAdde, irregu- 
larly rounded circumference near the upper convex surface. In one the Avidth 
of the central cavity is about one-sixth, in the other only about one-eighth of the 
total diameter, Avhich considerably exceeds the height of the specimen. 
European specimens A'ary equally in form, as do those three found in India. 
Geinitz says, that they change from piriform to globular, pedunculated, or even to 
cylindrical shape, and that the base of the peduncle is either single or ramified. 
I have compared European specimens Avith our fossil, and their structure agrees 
perfectly. If we had to go merely by Goldfuss’ figures, his Si])honia ficus, 
from near Goslar, ought to ho united AA'ith the present species, but in comparing 
actual specimens from that locality, the inter-canalicular texture appears to he 
finer and denser than h\ piriformis. It is, howevei', just possible that this difference 
merely consists iu a somewhat different preseiwatioii of the specimens. 
Locality . — Xorth-cast and north-west of Moraviatoor, in a broAvnish sandy 
limestone. 
Formation . — Ootatoor group. 
The species is, as already noticed, a characteristic fossil of the Cenomanien or 
Botomayensis beds in Saxony (lower Quadermarl and lower Placncr), Bohemia, and 
almost throughout France. The closely allied (if not identical) English species, 
S. Konigii, from the chalk is considered as distinct on account of its A'cry long pedun- 
cle, hut this is not shoAvn in MantelEsf original figure. 
* Iconograpb, zoopbyt., 1840 — 47, p. 137, pi. xxxiii, fig. 1. 
t Geol. Sussex, p. 179, pi. xvi, figs. 19, 20, 21. 
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