NOTES AND MEMORANDA. 43 



formation of germs began anew, but this time, apparently, asoxually, 

 as no sperm-cells were seen. 



In a vessel of sea-water containing Miliolce from Heligoland, were 

 found small sandy accumulations, containing a transparent, hardish 

 substance, devoid of silica, and enclosing about fifteen spaces containin^^ 

 capsules. The contents of these capsules were of four kinds, firstly, a 

 great number of bright Eiiglena-like bodies, devoid of flagella, but 

 exhibiting movements, probably spermatozoa ; secondly, masses of 

 protoplasm, probably ova ; thirdly, undoubted young Miliolfe ; and 

 fourthly, some of the capsules were empty and probably represented 

 empty sperm-capsules. 



It will be seen at once that the evidence for the sexuality of 

 Miliola, brought forward by Schneider, is by no means complete. 



3. Trichos]}Jicerium Sieholdii (nov. gen. et sp.). — This species 

 was discovered in water from Ostend, where it existed in such 

 quantities as to form a white powder. Its shape is generally ovoidal, 

 but undergoes considerable changes, so slowly, however, that the 

 changes could not be followed by the eye. The surface is thickly 

 covered with long bristle-like filaments (Borsten), which are unaffected 

 by potash, but dissolve in dilute acetic or hydrochloric acid, without 

 evolution of gas. When these bristles are dissolved, the animal is 

 seen to be covered with a fine membrane produced into short cylindri- 

 cal tubular processes, through each of which a delicate protoplasmic 

 filament, slightly longer than the bristles, is protruded. Tricho- 

 sphcerium forms an intermediate genus between Lieberkuhnia and the 

 ordinary calcareous Foraminifera. 



4. Chlamydomonas. — The author describes three species of this alga, 

 C. pulvisailiis, C. tumicla, and C. radiosa, and also gives an account of 

 the conjugation in the first-named sj)ecies. 



Cochineal for Staining.— Dr. Paul Mayer,* of the Zoological 

 Station at Naples, when making experiments to find an alcoholic 

 carmine solution with which to stain satisfactorily entire chitinous 

 membrane, tried the tincture of cochineal, which not only answered 

 the desired purpose, but showed itself suitable for general application 

 wherever it is required to stain by an alcoholic method animal tissues 

 preserved in alcohol, and to keep the preparations flius obtained in a 

 resinous medium. 



The pulverized cochineal is left for several days in contact with 

 70 per cent, alcohol, 8-10 c. cm. to a gramme, and the dark red liquid 

 filtered. The object to he stained must he free from acid, and it is best 

 to lay it for some time previously in fresh alcohol of 70 per cent. 

 Accordiug to the intensity required and the nature of the object, the 

 staining takes from a few minutes (infusoria, marine larva3, &c.) to a few 

 days (the higher Crustacea, large annelida, young cephalopoda, organs 

 of vertebrata, &c.). — The subsequent removal of the staining material 

 which is not fixed in the tissue, is efiected with 70 per cent, alcohol, 

 and takes days in some cases ; it can never, however, be continued too 

 long, and should not be stopped until the alcohol takes no more up. 



Ey this method, assuming that the object has been properly pre- 

 served, a very precise and nearly always intense nucleus stain is obtained, 

 * ' Zoologischcr Anzeiger,' vol, i. p. 345. 



