1260 Journal of Applied Microscopy 



CURRENT ZOOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 



Charles A. Kofoid. 



Books and separates of papers on zoological subjects should be sent for review to 

 Charles A. Kofoid, University of California, Berkeley, California. 



Wilson, H. V. Notes on a Species of Pelo- The species here described, P. caroHn- 

 myxa. Amer. Nat. 34: 535-550, 1900. ^^^^y^^ ig especially favorable for labora- 



tory use on account of its large size and freedom from foreign inclusions. In 

 sections it affords fine material for the study of the structure of protoplasm. 

 Strong acetic carmin (45 per cent.) was used in killing and staining for whole 

 mounts in glycerin. The external form and the internal structure were better 

 preserved by this method than by others. The author regards the " refractive 

 bodies " as globules of an albuminous nature. The culture methods employed 

 in rearing this rhizopod are of especial interest since they are applicable to other 

 Rhizopoda, such as the various species of Aviccba. A wooden tub is filled with 

 ordinary creek sand to the depth of four inches and flushed until the water remains 

 clear. A handful of Nitella, two or three opened mussels, and fragments of a 

 crayfish are partially buried in the sand and the tub is placed in a moderate 

 north light. As decomposition progresses a stream of soft water is turned on for 

 a short time every few days. After an interval of tvi'o to eight weeks Avmba 

 proteus appears in numbers on the surface of the sand and sides of the tub, the 

 smaller forms, A. radiosa and A. Umax, appearing earlier. The cycle of life in 

 such a culture is somewhat constant. Bacteria appear first and are followed by 

 the flagellate, and then the ciliate infusoria, especially Stentor ccerulens. Later 

 still the rotifers and Entomostraca appear. Cyclops becomes abundant apparently 

 at the expense of the rhizopods. Care should be taken not to introduce the 

 oligochaete worm Tubifex, which also multiplies rapidly and quickly destroys most 

 of the bottom forms. The brown film adhering to the sides and bottom of the 

 aquarium harbors the rhizopods and Stentors in large numbers. c. a. k. 



Stole, A. Beobachtungen und Versuche iiber Pelojnyxa was collected and placed in 

 die Verdanung und Bildung der Kohlenhy- ^ i^rge glass dish filled with SWamp 

 drate bei einem amobenartigen Organismus, ° * 



Pelomyxa palustris Greef. Zeitschr. f. wiss. water, and containing the other swamp 

 Zool. 68 : 625-668, 2 pis. organisms collected at the same time. 



The evaporation was made good with tap water, and at intervals little pieces of 

 gelatin and clean filter-paper or cotton placed in the jar. Under these condi- 

 tions Pelomyxa flourished, the individuals being usually found collected about the 

 filter paper and cotton. The oligochaete Dero and the sensitive infusorian 

 Spirostomum also did well. 



To isolate the animals for feeding experiments they were placed in small 

 dishes immersed in the water of the culture jar and sometimes covered with a 

 cover-glass. If the small dishes were removed from the culture water Pelomyxa 

 developed abnormally and soon died. The food was always solid ; starch, glu- 

 cosides, cellulose, and dried and powdered proteids being injested without 



