428 BACTERIA OF THE SPUTA 



of Fig. 26 was evident from its paleness, being the antipodes of 

 the bright colouring of these, as well as the presence of the inter- 

 nal fine beams. On the contrary, after deeper reflection, we 

 thought we might refer it to other forms already described in the 

 previous Memoirs. One of these forms would be that of the pseudo 

 inflorescences in tufts (preceding Memoir, Fig. 14). Comparing 

 the two figures, it will not appear unlikely that the slender threads 

 of Fig. 28 in the present Plate, distended like fine beams between 

 the internal stem and the sheath, growing more and more in a 

 transverse direction, may end by breaking the external envelope and 

 become free /^/«/^, perfect fertilising elements (spindle-like, comma, 

 or serpentine bacilli), at first only free from the surrounding 

 sheath, in order to constitute the tufts of the preceding Plate, and 

 at last becoming disjoined from the central stem, so that they may 

 fulfil their function through that stirring motion, mentioned in the 

 previous work. 



The other form, possibly analogous, would be that delineated 

 in the first Memoir (Fig. 2, ;/, lower down), similar to a large 

 bacillus, singularly veined throughout, and for a certain tract 

 having traces of lineal bacilli. Even this is a rather rare form, 

 and we have never found it on the top of any filament, but quite 

 by itself. We have already hinted in the previous Memoir that 

 that veined bacillus might be a sort of receptacle for the future 

 fertilising elements, as an antherid or a spermogone. 



Now, supposing that interpretation true, the transmutation from 

 one to the other of the three forms would become clear enough. 

 We should have, in the first form (or sheath expafisioii) of Fig. 28 

 (present Plate) an antherid or spermogone, hardly shown, 

 and in the second form (the tufts of Fig. 14, previous Memoir) a 

 male organ in full development. The third form (the veined 

 bacillus of Fig. 2, ;/, below, first Memoir) would be an inter- 

 mediate form to the other two (an arrested form), or an antherid 

 or spermogone, prematurely fallen from its stem, having been 

 unable to attain to the adult form of tuft ; and then strayed from 

 its destination and remained, as it were, unripe, or even returned 

 to a neutral condition, which is, we think, common to the severed 

 or truncated filaments, as, having been unable to attain the fructi- 

 fication, they limit themselves to a reproductive function of a 



