82 ILLINOIS BIOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS [292 



figures of the two species, that they are quite unlike. Balbiani's species 

 lacks the dilated flattened protomerite with its digitiform processes, but 

 has rather a high irregular cylindrical protomerite with an eccentric, 

 conical, forwardly directed projection. Moreover, the deutomerite is 

 quite different in shape from that of D. robustus (compare Figures 29 

 and 47) and the nucleus in the one species is spherical, in the other ovoi- 

 dal. Balbiani's figure compares favorably with figures of sporonts of 

 Echinomera hispida (Schneider) Labbe in the following respects; a) the 

 eccentrically placed cone at the apex of the animal, b) the shape of the 

 protomerite, c) the shape of nucleus. In the case of E. hispida, the epi- 

 merite persists and the cone is a part thereof. Balbiani's figure shows no 

 epimerite, neither does it indicate the digitiform processes characteristic 

 of the other. For these reasons, I do not wish to regard the two species 

 as identical, but rather to leave the one as indefinitely placed. Its origi- 

 nal position is obviously incorrect ; and the epimerite which is needed to 

 correctly diagnose it not having been discovered, its correct systematic 

 position cannot be determined. Figure 47 is copied from Balbiani's 

 drawing. 



NINA GRACILIS Grebnecki 



[Figure 30] 



1873 Nina gracilis Grebnecki 1873 : ? 



1887 Pterocephalus noMlis Schneider 1887 :68-9 



1909 Nina gracilis Leger and Duboscq 1909 :33-68 



Nina : Sporonts solitary, very elongate. Length 4 to 5 mm. Width 

 not given. Ratio length protomerite : total length : : 1 :26 ; width 

 protomerite : width deutomerite : : 1 : 0.1. Protomerite bilater- 

 ally symmetrical, divided into two equal lobes by a perpendicular con- 

 striction, these two lobes widely separated at one extremity to form an up- 

 turned cornucopia. The free upper extremity of each lobe bordered 

 with a longitudinal row of short sharp spines, from which project long 

 thread-like filaments. Deutomerite constricted just below septum then 

 dilated slightly, the lower half regularly cylindrical, and terminating in 

 a short bluntly pointed extremity. Nucleus slightly ovoidal with sev- 

 eral small karyosomes. Csyts spherical. Spores regularly ellipsoidal 

 with one integument, united in chains diagonally. 



Taken at Poitiers and at Grenoble (?), France. Hosts: Scolopen- 

 dra cingulata Latr. (8. cingulata var. hispanica Newp.). Habitat: 

 Intestine. 



