220 



EARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



where on walls, rocks, and trees, and treat a very 

 thin section of the mature apothecium as above. 

 Under the microscope it will thus appear — 



Fig. 143. Section of ThyscUi parietina. a, Paraphyses; 

 b, Asci with spores; c, Hypothecium ; d, Section of 

 apotliecium ; e. Spore. 



In the same way the spermogones may be ex- 

 amined, when the nature of the sterigmata and 

 spermatia will be apparent. By cutting across 

 the thallus of the above species, we can perceive 

 even by the naked eye that it consists of three 

 different layers, which when microscopically ex- 

 amined present the following appearance — 





%^ 



J>a^o^o 



Fig, 149. Section ol P/iijscia parietina, a, Cortical stratum; 

 b, Gonidic stratum ; c, Medullary stratum. 



But inadditionto this microscopical examination, it 

 is also requisite to observe the different chemical re- 

 actions produced ontheasciorthc hymenealgelatiue 

 with iodine (I), which will tinge these either bluish or 

 reddish wine-coloured, or else leave them uncoloured. 

 Similarly the thallus, including both the cortical 

 layer and the medulla, may be tested with hydrate 

 of potash (K), and hj'pochlorite of lime (C), the 

 latter being applied either by itself or added to K 

 ■when wet. In some cases' no reaction will be pro- 

 duced by these cither upon the cortical stratum or 

 the medulla ; in others they will be tinged yellowish 

 or reddish. The formula for the preparation of 

 these reagents are : for iodine, iodine, gr. j ; iodide 

 of potash, gr. iij, distilled water, 4- oz. ; for hydrate 

 of potash, equal weights of caustic potash aud water; 

 for hydrochloriteof lime, chloride of lime and water 

 of any strength. After correctly ascertaining the 



specific name of the specimens collected, this is to 

 be written on the slips of paper to which they are 

 affixed, above the locality and date, aud the best of 

 them, including all varieties and forms, selected for 

 subsequent mounting in the herbarium. This may 

 be effected either in the same way as the mounting 

 of phanerogamic plants, or by affixing the specimens 

 to pieces of millboard covered with white paper, 

 and arranging them according to the order of the 

 genera and species in the system of classification 

 which may be adopted. Tor facility of reference 

 the latter is undoubtedly the preferable method ; 

 and if the cards are disposed in a cabinet with 

 shallow drawers, they will not, so far at least as our 

 British species are concerned, be found to occupy 

 too much space. 



Newcomen Road, West Finchley, N. W. 



A NEW SPECIES OF PROTOCYSTIS. 



DR. "VVALLICH, in a paper on some uudescribed 

 Testaceous Rhizopods, read before the Royal 

 Microscopical Society, publishes a new genus of 

 Rhizopods, which he had discovered in the North 

 Atlantic soundings. This genus, he says, " is very 

 scarce in the deposits, and he had not been able to 

 detect a single specimen in which the sarcode body 

 was even partially visible, although, from the 

 general appearance and characters of the siliceous 

 shell, it seems highly probable that they are related 

 to the genus Cadium, Bailey. They exhibit one strik- 

 ing peculiarity, which is sufficient to warrant their 

 being provisionally placed in a separate genus. I 

 allude to the possession of a process which, in one 

 variety at least, appears capable of being detached 

 from the main body of the shell, as if it were con- 

 stituted of a distinct and separate portion. To this 

 genus I have given the name of Protocystls, leaving 

 the exact nature of the sarcode body of this genus 

 and [of Cadium to be determined when an oppor- 

 tunity of examining their living tissues shall have 

 been obtained." 



Class Rhizopoda. 



Order 3. Proteina. 



Earn. 1. Actinophryna. 



Genus PROTOCYSTIS (Wallich). — Shell sili- 

 ceous, entire, hyaline, subglobular ; surface of shell 

 filled with minute circular depressions. 



P. «M/7Y«.— Shell nearly orbicular ; anterior aper- 

 ture surmounted by two acuminate processes, 

 which are bent downwards from the erect position ; 

 the processes are perfectly plain, the line of union 

 between them and the body distinctly marked; 

 diameter 5^17 of an inch (fig. 350, a). North Atlantic 

 deposits, in 871 fathoms. Fig. 150, b, the same, with- 

 out processes. 



P. (7/oi«/tfm (Wallich).— This form resembles the 

 last in general outline aud marking of the siliceous 



