Page:Scientific results HMS Challenger vol 18 part 1.djvu/899

Rh thin spiral lamellæ and give to the whole shell more solidity. Often these beams form imperfect radial septa, by which the spiral cavity of the turnings is divided into a variable number of chambers. But these chambers never become so regular and perfect as in the analogous nautiloid Polythalamia.

In many Lithelida the growth of the shell reaches a certain limit, concluding with the formation of a superficial latticed lamella of lentelliptical or nearly spherical form. In many other forms of the family this seems not to be the case; but these may possibly be younger forms, afterwards reaching the same limit.

The network of the shell in the Lithelida is commonly quite irregular, and so variable that its special conformation has usually no value in the determination of the species. The surface of the shell is often covered with radial spines, which are sometimes arborescent.

The central capsule seems always to preserve the same lentelliptical form (or triaxial ellipsoid) as in all other. With the increase of growth it encloses successively a larger part of the spiral cortical shell, but on the outside is constantly protected by the last turnings of the spiral, or by the lattice-lamella of the surface.

Definition.— with simple, spherical or subspherical, medullary shell.

Definition.— with simple, spherical or subspherical, medullary shell, and lentelliptical or subspherical, spirally constructed cortical shell; surface smooth or thorny, without radial spines.