224 



MOnCRTDGE, ON THE MUFFA OF A^ALDTERI. 



after careful microscopic examination, places it in the genus 

 Leptotlirix (Kiitzing), near to L. compacta and L. lamellosa, 

 naming it after the place of its nativity, Vaklcria. A para- 

 sitic Ulva accompanies the ahove, growing upon it, and an 



COO. Leptothrix valderia. 



Oscillatoria sometimes covers the upper surface, where the 

 water has not more than thirty degrees of temperature. 

 Conferva nigra also occurs. 



2. The microscope reveals curious spontaneous movements 

 in the Muffa ; these are the work of numerous minute ani- 

 mals, Avhich live and multiply at a temperature of forty 

 degrees. Professor Defilippi considers them to be coleop- 

 terous insects of the genera Cryptophagus and Comurous, 

 with others which he could not determine. 



3. The residuum after burning dried Muffa was 28-055 per 

 cent. Of this 10924 were mineral substances belonging to 

 the vegetable organization— i. e. true cinders, and 17-134 



