GENUS CLATHEULINA— OLATHRULINA ELEGANS. 275 



their kind. Frequently one or two individuals may be seen attached by 

 their stems to the capsule of usually an older individual, and sometimes a 

 greater number are thus found attached to a single one. Not unfrequently 

 also individuals of a third series may be found attached in the same manner 

 to those of the second series, as represented in fig. 5, the whole together in 

 the arrangement reminding one of a candelabrum. The individuals attached 

 to others always appear successively younger, apparently as if they had 

 originated by birth from those to which they adhere. 



In the mature and active condition of Clathrulina, the soft protoplas- 

 mic body generally does not nearly fill its latticed capsule, and occupies a 

 central position within it. In several instances observed, the soft proto- 

 plasm nearly filled the capsule, and in addition an obscurely granular layer 

 enveloped the latter, as represented in fig. 2, a. In the mature, active indi- 

 viduals which have come under my notice, the interior protoplasmic body 

 appeared homogeneous granular, with scattered oil-like molecules, and no 

 distinctly visible vacuoles, as represented in figs. 1, 2, a. 



Pseudopodal rays, like those of Actinophrys sol, emanate from all parts 

 of the protoplasmic body, and project through the apertures of the latticed 

 capsule. Mostly they are simple and straight, and rarely fork. Previous 

 observers agree in the statement that the rays not only branch, but also 

 anastomose, though both these points escaped my attention. 



In none of the specimens observed by me could I detect a contractile 

 vesicle ; and in active individuals the nucleus was completely obscured 

 from view. 



In young individuals in which the latticed cap>sule is in process of 

 being formed, but is not yet distinguishable, as represented in fig. 3, the 

 protoplasmic body is filled with large vacuoles, as in Actinopi/rys sol, and 

 is invested with a thick layer of clearer and faintly granular protoplasm. 

 After the formation of the latticed capsule, the latter becomes less obvious, 

 or apparently disappears, as represented in fig. 2, b. 



In an animalcula-cage, in which I had placed some material from Ham- 

 monton pond, New Jersey, and in which I had observed several individuals 

 of Clathrulina in an encysted condition, the following day I discovered a 

 young active individual, as represented in fig. 4. It was fixed by a color- 

 less pedicle, twice the usual thickness, to the glass cover of the animalcula- 

 cage. The head or body was an Actinophrys-like mass, soft and change- 



