IXVERTEBRATA, CRYPTOGAMIA, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 1003 



directions at right angles to one another. When placing themselves 

 side by side in the same plane, they form a sort of membrane, but 

 without adherence. This is Polyhacteria sulplmrea. It was found on 

 the surface of a liquid in which haricots were rotting. 



Pundula. — The sj^herical cells are ordinarily extremely minute ; 

 they appear like innumerable dots united by a gelatinous cement. 

 A close examination is required to distinguish the colonies composed 

 of them from simple naked cells consisting of a finely granular 

 protoplasm. 



In Pundula rosea the colonies are of a bright rose colour ; they 

 are spherical, and with a sharply defined outline ; the dots, which are 

 so many elementary cells, are arranged in them with perfect regularity 

 in radial rows and concentric circles. After each division, the two 

 halves of the colony become rounded off", and separate completely. 

 When one of these spheres is crushed, it is resolved into its elementary 

 cells, and the formation can then be followed of so many new colonies 

 by the repeated increase and division of each of the cells. 



In Pundula cuhica the slightly larger cells are colourless, and are 

 associated together in cubical masses. After attaining a certain 

 dimension the cube divides successively in directions parallel to its 

 three faces, and each new cube behaves in the same way. At least 

 for a time, all the cubes arc associated together in larger or smaller 

 cubical masses. 



In Pundula glomerata the colourless colonies are rounded into 

 spheres, divide in three directions, and remain thenceforth associated 

 in larger or smaller mamillated masses. 



These three organisms have been found at various times on seeds 

 in a state of putrefaction. 



2. Colonies trovided with a Membbane. — In this group must be 

 placed the genus Ascococcus of Cohn, composed of spherical cells, 

 which is nothing but a Pundula invested. The types with cylindrical 

 cells may bo combined into the genus Ascohaderia, which again may 

 be described as a Pohjhaderla invested. 



Ascohaderia. — On the surface of li(|uids in which were rotting seeds 

 of various leguminous plants, and especially lupine, the writer fre- 

 quently found small, granular, polyhedral masses, each enveloped in 

 a thick cartilaginous membrane, placed side by side in a strongly 

 adherent layer, after the manner of an Ulca. But the contents of 

 each compartment, instead of being a simple protoplasmic body, were 

 composed of a great number of small I'ods, inclined in all directions, 

 and intimately united by a kind of cement. After having attained a 

 certain dimension by repeated and sinniltaneous bipartition of the rods, 

 it splits into two, and tho gelatinous membrane is continued over the 

 two new surfaces. Wlien the mass is crushed, the rods arc set free 

 and dissociated ; they then develop, as they did within the mass, and 

 soon give rise to as many new colonies, each of wliicli soon becomes 

 surrounded by its own membrane, or constitutes a cell of the second 

 order. Van Tiegheni has denominated this organism Ascohaderia 

 nlviiia. 



Ascococcus Cohn — In Ascococcus Billrothii Cohn, as in the three 



