GENUS DINAMCEBA— DINAMCEBA MIRAB1LIS. 85 



the former. Where these two desmids thrive luxuriantly, in ponds of the 

 deep sphagnous and cedar swamps of New Jersey, I have found the 

 favorite haunts of Dinamceba. Less frequently among its food contents 

 I have observed diatoms, closteria, and the brownish flocculent matter, 

 common in some of the ponds indicated. 



The green spots so generally observed in Dinamceba are mostly due 

 to the presence of scattered cells of Didymoprium and less frequently of 

 Bainbusina, scattered as food contents through the endosarc. As a result 

 of digestion, the green endochrome of the desmids loses its color, at first 

 becoming paler and then yellowish green, then ochreous yellow. The 

 discharged cells of the desmids appear with the yellow shriveled remains 

 of the endochrome in the centre. 



The figures of pi. VI represent individuals of Dinamceba, feeding on 

 Didymoprium, and containing in their interior multitudes of food-balls 

 mainly consisting of joints of that plant, of various shades of green, and 

 others rendered brown or yellow as the result of digestion. 



As is intimated, by Prof. Duncan, to be the case in Amceba, I suspect 

 that Dinamceba habitually takes its food at the posterior part of the body. 

 I have not seen the animal in the act of seizing its food, so that I am unable 

 to say whether it does so through the aid of the terminal papillae. My 

 observations, however, lead me to believe that in swallowing the food it 

 first enters to either side of the papillary extremity. 



In one instance in which I detected Dinamceba in the act of swallowing, 

 the animal presented the appearance represented in fig. 1, pi. VI, and had 

 been but a few minutes previously transferred to the animalcula-cage. It 

 was a fine vigorous specimen, broadly oval, 0.18 mm. long by 0.16 broad, 

 with its characteristic subulate pseudopods projecting in every direction. 

 All parts bristled with spicules, and the body was enveloped in its hyaline 

 jelly-cloak. A long filament of Didymoprium had one end bent and 

 swallowed by the Dinamceba, entering from the front, on the left side, in 

 advance of the middle. At the position of entrance it was enclosed for 

 some distance by a thick papillary protrusion of clear ectosarc, which 

 clasped it so tightly as to constrict the jelly-envelope of the Didymoprium 

 completely through to the cellular axis of the plant. 



A little later the animal slowly expanded so as to measure 0.24 mm. 

 in length, and retaining the original breadth. At the same time, the Didy- 



