THE PROTEOMYXA 



colour by transmitted light, are united into a colony by the fusion of the 

 ends of their contiguous pseudopodia. Reproduction by fission has been 

 observed, but no process of spore-formation is known. Freshwater. 



(I.), (IV.) Vampyrella, Cienkowski (Fig. 6, 5). Several species of 

 this widely distributed genus are known. There is an Actinophrys stage 

 in which, according to some authors, there is a nucleus. Vampyrella 

 lateritia attacks Spirogyra by pushing a lobate pseudopodium into the 

 cell and gradually absorbing its contents. V. gomphonematis attacks the 

 stalked diatom Gomphonema, completely surrounding the frustules and 

 absorbing their contents. Cysts are formed surrounded by a single 

 smooth membrane, the animal discharges particles of undigested food 



FIG. 6. 



1, Protomyxa aurantiaca, Haeckel, plasmodium phase. The naked protoplasm shows branched, 

 reticulate processes and numerous non-contractile filaments It is in the act of engulfing a 

 Ceratium. Shells of engulfed Ciliata (Tintinnabula) are embedded deeply in the endoplasm, 

 a. 2, cystic phase ot Pfotomyaea; <i, transparent cyst-wall; 6, protoplasm broken up into 

 spores. 3, flagellula phase of Protomyxa. 4, amoebula phase of the same, the form assumed after 

 a short period by the flajjellulae. 5, Vampyrella lateritia. Cienk. Actinophrys stage penetrating 

 a cell of Spirogyra, b, by a process of its protoplasm, c, and taking up the substance of the Spiro- 

 gyra cell, some of which is seen within the Vampyrella, a. 6, large individuals of Vampyrella 

 .showing pseudopodia, e, and food-particles, a. (From Lankester, after Haeckel and Cienkowski.) 



materials and these are found with the shrunken protoplasm within the 

 cyst- wall. Occasionally a second membrane is formed around the 

 shrunken protoplasm. The protoplasm divides within the cyst-wall, and 

 the nuclei of the spores thus formed are 2 p. in diameter and divide 

 by karyokinesis. From the cyst there escape one, but usually four 

 or five amoebulae, which soon develop radiate pseudopodia and float 

 away in search of their food. In some species (e.g. V. gomphonematis) it 



