0¥ THE VIBRIONIA, 529 



envelope. This genus appears to us very erroneously referred to the Volvoeina ; 

 but the figures given are not sufficient to determine to what family they more 

 rightly belong. 



HiRMiDiuM i7iane (xix. 15). — Cor- 'common envelope inconspicuous. Length 

 puscles irregidarly spherical, almost cup- j of chain 1-360" ; size of individual cor- 

 shaped, and probably furnished each with puscles 1-1900". From its smallness, this 

 two filaments. Some very tine molecules, j organism is difficult of observation, and 



one generally of a hark hue, perceptible 

 internally. The chain advances quickly 

 by revolving on its long axis ; gelatinous ; 



requires further investigation. Only in 

 small numbers, in some ponds in the 

 canton of Bern. 



Wemeck characterized several new genera, which he referred to the Poly- 

 gastrica of Ehi^enberg {Monatsh. der BerJ. Akad. 1841, p. 377), two of which 

 are to be inserted in this family, as allies of Pandorina, and are veiy briefly 

 characterized under the names of Ccdia and Stephanoma : — 



CALIA. — Monads imbedded in a gelatinous mass, affixed to plants, and 

 not swimming freely about. Two species are kno^vn ; the characters not given. 

 This genus is very probably nothing more than one of the simple Algae. 



STEPH AN OM A =P«ncZorma with a single zone of corpuscles, which divide 

 like the cells of Gonium. One species observed exhibiting a circlet of sphe- 

 rules united to form a wi'eath or zone. This genus is probably the same as 

 Stephanosphc^ra (Cohn, A. N. H. 1852, p. 407). 



Genus STEPHANOSPH^ERA (Cohn) (XIX. 38-58).— A family of cells, 

 rotating and moving throughout life ; composed of eight green primordial 

 ceUs, each bearing tivo active cilia ; arranged at equal distances in a circle, 

 enclosed in a common hyaline globose vesicle, or common envelope; pro- 

 pagated both by ynacrogonidia (originating from eightfold division of each of 

 the green cells), which bear two cilia, and are congregated into eight octonary 

 families, and by very numerous smaller microgonidia (produced by multifold 

 division), revolving at first T\ithin the common vesicle by the action of four 

 cilia, and then escaping singly. 



Stephanospioera jyluvialis. — Green^ 

 cells globose, elliptical, or fusiform, often 

 running out into mucous rays at both 

 ends. Diameter of the cells = l-330th to 

 l-180th of a line (0-0065 to 0-012 umi.) ; 

 diameter of common vesicle = l-80th to 



l-40th of a line (0-028 to 0-055 mm.). 

 Revives after desiccation. Inhabits 

 hollow stones filled with rain-water, in 

 company with Chlamydococciis pluvialts : 

 Salzburg, Wemeck ? ; Zamora, A. von 

 Frantzius ] Hirschberg, Von Flototv, 



Dr. Strethill Wright has met with Stephanosphcera in Scotland. 



FAMILY v.— VIBRIONIA (see p. 184). 



(XVIII. 57-69.) 



According to Ehrenberg, the members of this family are distinctly or ap- 

 parently polygastric, but without a true alimentary canal; have neither 

 appendages nor lorica, and are incapable of changing the form of their body. 

 They are linked together in thread-like chains, formed by their imperfect 

 transverse self- division. Information respecting the Vibrionia is very im- 

 perfect ; this is attributable to the exceeding minuteness of the individual ani- 

 malcules which compose the chains. These last have never any determinate 

 length, or number of component corpuscles, and they are sometimes so short 

 as to be made up of not more than two or three individuals, which are only 

 distinguishable from Monas Termo and M. Crep>usciduin by their union in 

 chains, and by their peculiar, though not easily characterized movements. 

 The motion of the chains is generally of a writhing character. In one genus 



2 M 



