Subfamily Cromyosphærida, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, pp. 449, 453

Definition.—Liosphærida with four concentric spherical latticed shells, united by radial beams.

Genus 23. Cromyosphæra, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 453.

Definition.—Liosphærida with two intracapsular (medullary) shells and two extracapsular (cortical) shells; the former united with the latter by radial beams piercing the wall of the central capsule.

The genus Cromyosphæra is the only known genus of Cromyosphærida, or of such Sphæroidea, the smooth shell of which is composed of two medullary and two cortical shells. There may possibly be other Cromyosphærida, in which the shell is composed of one simple medullary and three cortical shells, or only of four extra-capsular cortical shells; but such have not as yet been observed. Caryosphæra polysphærica, Bütschli, 1882 (L. N. , Taf. xxiii. fig. 12) is probably a Cromyosphæra (fossil in Barbados).

1. Cromyosphæra quadruplex, n. sp. (Pl. , fig. 9).

Radial proportion of the four spheres = 1 : 2 : 4 : 5. Outer cortical shell smooth, with large regular hexagonal pores, ten times as broad as the bars; inner cortical shell with irregular polygonal pores, five times as broad as the bars. Both medullary shells with regular circular pores of the same breadth as the bars.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the four spheres—(A) 0.16, (B) 0.12, (C) 0.06, (D) 0.03.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 265, depth 2900 fathoms.

2. Cromyosphæra rosetta, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the four spheres = 1 : 2 : 8 : 10. Outer cortical shell smooth, with regular hexagonal pores and very thin bars; inner cortical shell with the same number of exactly corresponding, regular circular, hexagonally framed pores, twice as broad as the bars; the corners of the outer and inner hexagons united by radial bristles. Both medullary shells with regular circular pores, twice as broad as the bars.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the four spheres—(A) 0.2, (B) 0.16, (C) 0.04, (D) 0.02.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 271, depth 2425 fathoms.

3. Cromyosphæra bigemina, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the four spheres = 1 : 2 : 7 : 8. Outer cortical shell smooth, with regular hexagonal pores and very thin bars; inner cortical shell with the same number of exactly corresponding, regular circular pores. Both medullary shells with regular circular pores of the same breadth as the bars. (Somewhat similar to Hexacromyon elegans, Pl. , fig. 9, also with six inner radial beams, but without external radial spines.)

Dimensions.—Diameter of the four spheres—(A) 0.2, (B) 0.17, (C) 0.05, (D) 0.025.

Habitat.—North Pacific, Station 241, depth 2300 fathoms.

4. Cromyosphæra cepa, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the four spheres = 1 : 2 : 4 : 5. All four shells of the same structure, thick-walled, with regular circular pores, two to four times as broad as the bars; the size of the pores increases gradually from the inner to the outer shell. Surface thorny. Distance between the second and third shells twice as great as that between the others.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the four spheres—(A) 0.125, (B) 0.1, (C) 0.05, (D) 0.025.

Habitat.—Fossil in Barbados.

5. Cromyosphæra scorodonium, n. sp.

Radial proportion of the four spheres = 1 : 2 : 3 : 4. All four shells of the same structure, thin-walled, with irregular roundish pores, two to four times as broad as the bars; the size of the pores increasing gradually from the inner to the outer shell. Surface smooth. Distance between each two shells equal to the diameter of the innermost.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the four spheres—(A) 0.12, (B) 0.09, (C) 0.06, (D) 0.03.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 268, depth 2900 fathoms; also fossil in Barbados.

6. Cromyosphæra antarctica, n. sp..

Radial proportion of the four spheres = 1 : 2 : 5 : 7. Both cortical shells with irregular polygonal roundish pores; the outermost with thinner bars and rough surface, the inner with thicker bars. Both medullary shells with irregular roundish pores.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the four spheres—(A) 0.18, (B) 0.12, (C) 0.05, (D) 0.025.

Habitat.—Antarctic Ocean; in very large number, together with Rhizosphæra antarctica, in the diatomaceous ooze of Station 157 (3rd March 1874); depth 1950 fathoms.