On Archæocyathus , Billings, and on other Genera, allied to or associated with it, from the Cambrian Strata of North America, Spain, Sardinia, and Scotland

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Abstract
The real characters and the relations of the group of fossils known generally under the term Archæocyathus are at present subjects of discussion among palæontologist; they have been regarded as allied to Foraminifera, Sponges, and Corals. Many of the forms occur in the lowest fossiliferous zones of the Canbrian rocks, and are thus among the earliest known forms of life, a fact which gives additional interest to their study. Since Mr. Billings first called attention to them in 1861, they have been investigated by several authors, more particularly by Sir J. W. Dawson, Prof. Ferd. Römer, Mr. C. D. Walcott, and, more recently, by Dr. Bornemann; but it cannot be said that the obscurity attaching to them has been fully cleared up. I have been induced by Sir J. W. Dawson to undertake an independent investigation of their characters, based more particularly on their microscopic structure, and thanks, to the kindness of the above-named authors, I have been supplied with material which has enabled me to ascertain by direct comparison the nature of these fossils from widely separated localities. Thus Sir J. W. Dawson sent some specimens from Labrador belonging to McGill College Museum; the Geological Survey Of Canada, through Mr. J. F. Whiteaves, F.G.S., supplied me with the type forms described by the late Mr. Billings; Prof. Ferd Römer with the figured specimens of Archæocyathus marianus from spain; and to Dr. J. G. Bornemann I am indebted for fragments of rock filled with these fossils, which he collected in

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