144 BRITISH FRESHWATER RHIZOPODA. 



their distinctness ; and conversely that when a thread 

 seems to divide into two, longitudinally, the case is 

 really one of separation of two pre-existing threads." 

 His general conclusion was that the threads do not 

 form a dendritic branching figure, or a network, but 

 are merely apposed so as to form one less expanded, 

 or, to speak more accurately, an apparent meshwork, 

 and when more straightened and separated from one 

 another, nn apparent tree-like structure, the appear- 

 ance in both cases being illusive. 



Dr. Penard, however, having given close attention 

 to the filaments and their behaviour, is of opinion 

 that a real fusion is effected. The power of each 

 filament to bifurcate he also placed beyond question. 



With regard to the fusiform hyaline corpuscles 

 which travel along the threads, Dr. Lankester says : 

 " The movement of the oat-shaped corpuscles is the 

 most interesting and characteristic feature presented 

 by Chlamydomya&a. It must be distinguished altogether 

 from the straightening and expanding movement of 

 the mass of filaments ; at the same time, it is not 

 manifested until the filaments have become some at 

 least of them straightened and free. Then as such a 

 filament spreads itself, and as it were slowly pushes 

 itself forth in a straight line, first one, then another, 

 and finally many of the oat-shaped corpuscles are seen 

 to advance along it. They move slowly in one direc- 

 tion as a rule, stopping sometimes after a considerable 

 advance, and then resuming movement. They do not 

 all travel at the same rate on one filament. I saw on 

 several, one corpuscle overtake another and glide over 

 the back (so to speak) of its more slowly-moving com- 

 panion, and advance in front of it." He was of opinion 

 that the movement was produced by an exceedingly 

 delicate coat of hyaline protoplasm. 



These minute bodies differ from those of C. labyrinth- 

 uloides in being considerably smaller, and generally 

 ovoid. They are colourless, and Penard says resist 

 the action of carmine and other reagents. Their 



