1909] Lambert,— Two new Species of Characium 69 
stage. In other instances the longitudinal division first occurred in 
the 8 and in the 16 cell stage of the uniseriate type. The division of 
basal and terminal cells is always transverse, never longitudinal. 
At any stage, a count of cells and a careful examination of the pyrenoids 
leads to the conclusion that the divisions are approximately simul- 
taneous throughout the length of the cell; the evidence, while not 
conclusive, suggests that a cell, once divided longitudinally does not 
divide again in any plane. Elongation of the individual is not always 
correlated with the progress of spore formation. Some individuals in 
incipient 2 or 4 cell stages are as long as others in fully developed 8 cell 
stages. Among the thousands of specimens that have been under 
observation, I have been unable to find any trace of the liberation 
of the spores, or of their germination; any empty cells; or any evidence 
of the spores assuming the rounded form characteristic of Characium 
cyl'indricum and of other species which have been hitherto described. 
A microscopic examination of Branchipus bearing the Characia 
always shows many specimens of Characium gracilipes broken, 
especially in the advanced stages of spore formation. These broken 
cells, however, present no evidence of the escape of the contents, save 
at the very ends, and there, only a few cells. ‘There is no uniformity 
in the length of the broken pieces, nor in their stage of development. 
They may vary from early stages up to the 64 cell stage. Basal, 
middle, and distal portions all appear in the field at once, which leads 
one to think that the elongated Characium gracilipes had been broken 
up mechanically in the manipulation of the material under the cover- 
glass. An examination of entire specimens of Branchipus, under 
conditions where the chances of mechanical disturbance were at a 
minimum, still showed broken specimens. Moreover, inasmuch as 
the formalin had not caused any appreciable swelling, this broken 
condition could not be ascribed to the effect of the preservative. If 
fragmentation be the normal method of spore liberation, it is difficult 
to understand what becomes of the empty cells, and why there is no 
satisfactory evidence of liberation of the spores. If this fragmentation 
of Characium gracilipes be characteristic for the species, it may be 
that the liberated cells, on dissolution of the containing wall, assume 
the palmelloid state which has been described for other species. I 
have not seen evidence of the palmelloid condition. It seems strange 
that none of the germinating spores could be found; the smallest 
specimen observed measured 80 y in length, and was fully developed 
in every respect. 
