VAMPYRELLA FLABELLATA. 105 



tint characteristic of other Vampyrellse ; but this may 

 have been a temporary or accidental condition. 



4. Vampyrella gomphonematis Hseckel. 

 (PL XI, figs. 13-15.) 



Vampyrella gomphonematis H^ECKEL Biol. Stud. XII (1870), 

 p. 163, t. vi, ff. 1-4, and in Jen. Zeits. f. Med. u. Nat. VI 

 (1871), p. 23, t. ii, ft'. 1-4; ALLMAN in Journ. Linn. Soc., 

 Zool. XIII (1877), p. 421, f. 12; BUTSCHLI in Bronn's 

 Thier-Eeichs, I. (5 (1880), t. xii, f . 13; KLEIN inBot.Zeit. 

 XL (1882), col. 212, and in Bot. Centralbl. XI (1882), 

 p. 255; LANESSAN Traite Zool., Prot. (1882), p. 28, 

 ff. 14-16; ZOPF Pilzthiere oder Schleimp. (1885), p. 108, 

 f. 40; DANGEAED in Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. (7) IV (1886), 

 pp. 253, 254; MAGGI in Boll. Scient. Ill, an. 10 (1888), 

 p. 115. 



Body, in its initial form, round or ovoid, with a 

 reddish tinge, minute, very inactive ; without apparent 

 nucleus or contractile vacuole; its surface covered 

 with a mass of fine hair-like irregular pseudopodal 

 filaments, giving the organism a villous appearance. 

 The animal undergoes considerable mutation when 

 feeding on diatoms (gomphonemas and naviculas) of 

 which it appropriates the chlorophyllous contents. 



Dimensions : About 20-25 p. in diameter. 

 In still pools, amongst Confervas ; Cheshire. 



V. gomphonematis is the smallest of the Vampyrellae, 

 and liable to be passed by without recognition, unless 

 engaged feeding on the stipitate Gomphonemx, as 

 figured by Hseckel, when it will expand and envelop 

 an entire group of frustules with its soft plasma-body. 

 In this process the pseudopodia undergo considerable 

 modification (PI. XI, fig. 15). We have never observed 

 the animal in this condition. Ordinarily it is found 

 feeding on Naviculse, a single frustule of which it will 

 envelop, and, after extracting the contents, reject the 

 hard test, proceeding to others, and treating them 

 similarly. 



