326 Editorial Commenl. 
Duncan described in 1875 as a new genus of calcareous sponges^ 
under the name of Hlndia sphccroldalis. The later work of 
Hinde and particularly that of Dr. Rauff upon this species, goes 
to show that Hlndia is a lithistld sponge. 
Beatricea he places with the foraminifera and Stromatofora 
and Stromatocerhim with the spongida, when our best author- 
ities agree that they are closely related genera belonging to the 
hydroida. Labcchla he does not recognize, but its species, as 
well as Dystactosfoiigia Miller (a very different and remarkable 
true sponge) are ranged under Stromatopora. With regard to 
the last genus it is sufficient to say that no true species of it is as 
vet know from the Cincinnati rocks, nor from any other Low- 
er Silurian horizon. This paper furnishes no evidence that its 
author had studied any of the recent literature on the sponges, 
and, as usual, his innovations are I'etrogressive and detrimental 
to the progress of palceontological science. 
His latest and most important step is to attempt a revision of 
the monticuliporoid corals of the Cincinnati group. Two parts 
of this undertaking, in which his father's name is coupled with 
his own, have appeared in the October 18S7 and Jan. 1888,, 
numbers of the Jour. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist. So far as can be 
judged from the parts already published, this paper will make 
rich, almost sensational, reading for some of the authors who 
have done work in this branch of palaeozoology. When their 
work has been completed the Geologist will probably review 
it at length. 
Again the work is highly destructive and retrogressive, since 
it puts the subject back where it was 12 years ago when Dr.. 
Nicholson fii-st began the preparation of thin sections to show 
internal characters. These the Messrs. James curtly condemn 
as a basis for classification, saying that sections are difficult to 
prepare and unreliable when made. To support this untrue 
statement they make quotations, all misleading — from Geike, 
Prestwick, Nicholson and Ulrich. To any one acquainted with 
the subject this attempt to cast doubt upon the only method 
known that admits of bringing some harmony and sj-stem into- 
the classification of this difficult groujD of fossils seems insincere.. 
The extreme utility of thin sections in the study of the fossil 
bryozoa is recognized by all naturalists who are making a 
