The British Carboniferous Reticulate Spiriferidæ

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Abstract
I. I ntroduction I n this paper are considered those members of the Spiriferidae which are commonly characterized by the presence of a clath-rate or spinous ornament, and which have usually been referred to the genus Reticularia M'Coy. Certain similar forms have been considered in a previous paper ( George, 1931 ), but although in the past these have been classed with Reticularia ( Waagen, 1883, p. 497 ), they are very different from that genus in both external and internal structure ( George, 1931, p. 41 ). Forms which have been included in Reticularia are recorded from Permian, Upper Carboniferous, and Devonian rocks of other countries, but as these are very rare in, if not entirely absent from, the rocks of Great Britain, only those of Lower Carboniferous age are here considered. No attempt at an exhaustive study of the British species has been contemplated ; only the more common forms, or those demonstrating certain interesting peculiarities, are described. While many of the specimens examined were of my own collecting, I am under considerable obligation to numerous people for permission to examine specimens committed to their care, or for the loan of specimens from private collections; some were so kind as to permit me to determine the internal features by polishing and making serial sections. For such facilities, I wish to thank Dr. R. G. Absalom (Kelvingrove Museum); Mr. G. B. Alexander; Dr. F. A. Bather, Dr. W. D. Lang, and Miss H. M. Muir-Wood (British Museum, Natural History); Dr. E. D. Currie (Hunterian Museum); Prof. E.