ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 47 



the general characters of a Gregarine, but has a schizogonic multipli- 

 cation within its host. The name proposed is Schizocystis gregarinoides. 

 Its life-history presents a striking analogy with that of Ophryocystis, 

 and the two genera may be united as Schizogregarines in contrast to the 

 Eugregarines (without endogenous multiplication). Both the genera 

 named differ from Coccidia in being in great part, if not always, extra- 

 cellular, and in having the sporogony preceded by isogamic conjugation 

 of sporophists, whereas the Coccidia are intracellular during their whole 

 period of growth, and exhibit hetcrogamic conjugation. 



New Species of Ophryocystis. * — Louis Leger and Paul Hagen- 

 muller have found in Blaps magica a parasite nearly allied to Ophryo- 

 cystis biitschlii, which they call 0. schneideri. The material was in 

 sufficient (quantity to enable them to make observations on both the 

 endogenous and exogenous cycles of the parasite. In regard to the 

 first, the parasite in its " vegetative " state was found in the Malpighian 

 tubules and the intestine. Though the form varied, it may be said to 

 be generally conical, the apex of the cone projecting freely into the 

 lumen of the tube, while the base is furnished with fixative processes 

 attached to the so-called immovable cilia of the epithelial cells. There 

 is a distinct if thin cuticle, no differentiation of ectoplasm and endoplasm, 

 an areolar cytoplasm filled with granulations, and a nucleus of spherical 

 shape placed near the base of the cell. Amoeboid movements were not 

 observed. As the parasite increases in size the nucleus divides, and 

 later the polynucleated individual divides up to form uninucleated young. 

 Towards autumn this vegetative reproduction reaches its limit, and 

 conjugation occurs, two individuals uniting to form a cyst. It is to 

 be noted, however, that the " cyst "-wall is merely the cuticle of the 

 conjugates, no special envelope being secreted. The single sporocyst 

 formed by the union of the gametes gives rise to eight thread-like 

 sporozoites. 



Reproduction of Ophryocystis. f — Louis Leger finds in several 

 species of this Gregarine that there is typical isogamic conjugation and 

 also the possibility of the parthenogeuetic origin of a microsporocyst 

 from a single gamete. The sporogony is quite comparable to that of 

 Gregarines, a single sporocyst resulting from the conjugation of two 

 sporoblasts whose nuclei have previously undergone reduction. One 

 may regard Ophryocystis as a simple schizogonic ancestor of, on the 

 one hand, Schizocystis and the Eugregariuida, and, on the other hand, 

 of the Coccidia. 



* Arch. Zool. Exper., viii. (1900) pp. 10-5 (2 figs.), 

 t Comptes Rendus, cxxxi. (1900) pp. 7Gl-o. 



