GENUS SYNCRYPTA. 



413 



Perty in bog water on the Grimsel Alps. The length of the individual zooids is 

 given as 1-840" to 1-600", and the diameters of the united colonies as 1-180". 

 These colony-stocks contain from three or four to as many as tliirty zooids ; the 

 spheroidal mass formed, according to his delineations reproduced at PI. XXII. 

 Fig. 27, being very irregular. 



Genus XIV. SYNCRYPTA, Ehrenberg. 



Animalcules free-swimming, illoricate, united socially by their posterior 

 extremities in spheroidal or rosette-shaped clusters, the whole colony-stock 

 being immersed within a granular, gelatinous matrix or zoocytium, beyond 

 the periphery of which the flagella alone project ; flagella two in number, 

 subequal ; lateral colour-bands conspicuously developed ; one or more 

 eye-like pigment-specks usually present. 



Previous to the publication of Stein's recently issued volume, the position of the 

 single specific form referred by Ehrenberg to this genus was very doubtful ; Du- 

 jardin regarded it as closely allied to or identical with Cryptomonas, while Mr. Carter 

 declared it to be the spermatic form of Volvox or SphcBro'pJuya. As more thoroughly 

 investigated by Stein, it is, however, now shown to be an independent type most 

 nearly allied to Urogle/ia, but differing from that genus in the close approximation, 

 without any intermediate spaces or contractile pedicles, of the zooid clusters, and 

 through the possession by the animalcule of two eye-specks instead of a single one. 



Syncrypta volvox, Ehr. Pl. XXIII. Fig. 3. 



Bodies ovate, tapering posteriorly, and there united together so as to 

 form rosette-shaped colonies of four, eight, sixteen, or thirty zooids ; the 

 investing zoocytium granular, and somewhat dense ; flagella two in number, 

 subequal ; colour-bands evenly developed, of a brownish hue, extending 

 throughout the two lateral borders ; eye-like pigment-specks two in 

 number, one stationed at the anterior extremity of each of the two colour- 

 bands ; the contractile vesicle located a little behind the eye-specks and 

 in the clear space between the colour-bands. Length of individual zooids 

 1-2500", diameter of social colonies, including gelatinous zoogloea, 1-570". 



Hab. — Pond water. 



As originally figured and described by Ehrenberg, the zooids of this colonial 

 form are represented as possessing a single flagellum only, but Stein in his recently 

 pubhshed illustrations of the Flagellata records the existence of two, as also of the 

 eye -specks and contractile vesicles, which had not been detected by Ehrenberg. 

 Stein is not very clear in his delineation of the relative length of the two flagella, in 

 some cases they being delineated as equal and in others as diverse in length. The 

 balance of evidence is, however, seemingly in favour of their uneven development, 

 such proportions obtaining in Dinobryoji, Epipyxis, Uroglena, and all other members 

 of this family group that have been examined by the present author with the aid of 

 the highest magnifying powers. It is a further significant fact that in this instance, 

 as also in most others in which two uneven-sized flagella actually exist, Ehrenberg has 

 represented a single one only, the smaller of the two having no doubt been beyond 

 the defining capacity of his instruments. In the protophytes Volvox and C/i/amydo- 

 vionas, on the other hand, where the two flagella are of even length and calibre, this 

 authority has as invariably assigned to them their true character and proportions. 



