REPORT ON THE RADIOLARIA. xli 



vesicles" (see note A, below), "albumen spheres" (see B), "gelatinous spheres" (see C), 

 " alveolar cells " (see D), &c. Some of these spheres are perfectly transparent, struc- 

 tureless and of varjring refractive power, producing the impression of drops of fluid; 

 others contain various formed constituents, such as oil-globules, fat-granules, pigment- 

 granules, concretions, crystals, &c. From a morphological point of view they may all be 

 divided into two categories, membraneless vacuoles and vesicular alveoles. The vacxwles 

 are simple spherical drops of fluid or of gelatinous material, devoid of a special envelope, 

 but immediately surrounded by the endoplasm. The alveoles, on the other hand, are 

 true vesicles with a thin spherical envelope, enclosing a drop of fluid or jelly. This 

 envelope is commonly very thin, homogeneous, and often scarcely discernible, so that in 

 practice a sharp line of demarcation cannot be drawn between alveoles and vacuoles ; the 

 former are usually somewhat larger than the latter. The fact is, nevertheless, certain 

 that the hyaline spheres, which may be isolated on rupturing the central capsule of many 

 Radiolaria, in certain cases, particularly in large species, possess a clear, anatomically 

 demonstrable membrane, whilst in others no such appearance is presented. It may 

 be assumed that the vesicular alveoles are developed from the drop-like vacuoles 

 by increase in size, and by the precipitation of a delicate envelope from the endoplasm. 

 The character common to all these hyaline spheres, whether vacuoles or alveoles, is found 

 in their aqueous, not adipose, constitution, and in their clear transparent appearance, 

 which allows of no structure (the above-mentioned contained bodies excepted) being 

 recognised. Their refractive power and consistency vary somewhat, and probably their 

 chemical constitution still more. Sometimes they are strongly refractive and shining, 

 and sometimes feebly refractive and pale ; their consistency shows all intermediate stages 

 between a thin fluid, which readily disappears in water, and a firm, insoluble jelly. 

 As regards their chemical composition (which is probably very variable), the hyaline 

 spheres may be best divided into two groups, the organic and inorganic. The inorganic 

 hyaline spheres are simple drops of saline solution without any carbonaceous constituent ; 

 the organic, on the other hand, contain a small quantity of organic matter dissolved in 

 the watery fluid, and may be either albuminous or gelatinous spheres. The formed 

 contents Avhich are commonly present are of very various natures, usually small fat- 

 granules, more rarely larger fat-granules or pigment-granules, sometimes concretions or 

 crystals. In many groups, especially among the large Ph.eodaria and C o 1 1 o d a r i a, 

 the numerous hyaline spheres are remarkable for their equal size and even distribution 

 throughout the endoplasm (PI. 1, figs. 1, 4; PL 104, fig. 2, &c.). In some genera 

 belonging to the ThalassicoUida the alveoles are of enormous size (PI. 1, figs. 2, 3) ; 

 they then become flattened by mutual pressure into polyhedra and distend the central 

 capsule to unusual dimensions (in Physematium and Thalassolampe 8 to 12 mm.). 



A. The "spherical hyaline vesicles," which I described in my Monograph (1862, p. 71) as 

 among the most important and constant contents of the central capsule, are partly vacuoles, 



(ZOOL. CHALL. ESP. — PART XL. — 1886.) Rr/ 



