462 
R. Scott. — On Traquairia. 
Text-fig. 2. Bothrodendron mega 
sporangium on spirophyll. X 30. S.2561 
occurs in all sorts of cavities in the tissues of Lepidodendron and other 
plants, and as they usually occur in groups it is very easy to find three 
together (see Figs. 14 and 16, PI. XL). 
For some reason Mr. Carruthers's view, 
that Traqtmiriae were Radiolarians, was 
never generally accepted, yet there seems to 
be a good deal of evidence to prove that he 
was not far wrong. Perhaps one reason was 
that Radiolarians were always supposed to 
be deep-sea organisms and people did not see 
how this was compatible with their being 
associated with land plants, but Professor 
Sollas 1 is of opinion that the deposits in 
which Radiolarians occur may be of a 
shallow-water character, and Dr. Hinde and 
other observers have noticed that impres- 
sions of Lepidodendron occur in the same 
rock with Radiolarian casts. An example 
of this is found in the Devonian rocks of New 
South Wales, where the Radiolarians are associated with Lepidodendron 
aastrale. This latter fact is of especial interest, as fragments of Lepidodendron 
and Traquairia are also so often found together in the British petrifactions. 
Many of the Radiolarians figured in Dr. Hinde’s paper bear a striking 
resemblance to Traquairia , e.g. his PI. IX, P'ig. 1; PL VII, Fig. 23, is very 
much like another object found in the Coal Measures, Sporocarpon elegans . 
Dr. Hinde, who has kindly written to me on the subject, says, however : 
‘ My present opinion is that this genus is not related in any way to Radiolaria.’ 
Mr. Carruthers, in his paper on the subject, gave as a reason against his 
own arguments, that Traquairia had no ‘ central capsule constantly found 
in Radiolarians. In the specimens which we now have at our disposal, every 
species shows a f central capsule ’ (see Pis. XXXIX, XL, Figs. 9, 15, 16). 
It now remains for me to describe the specimens and to record the new 
species. 
Traquairia is a spherical organism, consisting of two parts each sur- 
' rounded by a sharply defined membrane : an inner capsule, often containing 
spores, and an outer part, which is surrounded by a thick gelatinous enve- 
lope. In this are embedded numerous hollow spines. The apparent bases 
of these spines are produced into hollow anastomosing tubes, which spread 
over the surface of the sphere, forming' a complicated network. The 
spines are hollow and are perforated in every direction by projecting tubular 
pores. Emanating from these pores are delicate threads (see PI. XXXIX, 
1 Discussion on Dr. Hinde’s paper on Devonian Radiolaria from New South Wales. Geol. Soc. 
Journ., vol. lv, 1899, p. 64. 
