FORAMINIFERA

a group of unicellular animals, the vast majority of which are marine, characterized by the po e ion of a simple or elaborate test or shell, which may be of a calcareous, or arenaceous, but never of a siliceous nature, penetrated or enveloped by delicate protoplasmic proce es, which branch and anastomose freely (c. Heliozoa). The shells, which are extremely variable in character, are always primarily single-chambered, and from this starting-point, a closely coiled spiral, a globular ma , a chain-like series, and many other forms may be evolved. town, Alsace-Lorraine, Germany; pottery; coal mines. Pop. 10,000.