116 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



3. HphcErospora and Myxosoma do not differ at all iu tlie characters 

 given (the distinction between these nnispecific genera resting solely 

 npon the outline of the spore), and the two taken together present only 

 a single character iu contrast to Chloromyxum, viz, the number of the 

 capsules. They may therefore be fused as a subgenus of Chloromyxum. 



4. Ceratomyxa agrees sufficiently closely with Chloromyxum to permit 

 its reference to the Chloromyxidcv. 



5. CystodisGUs is certainly entitled to separate family rank. To it may 

 be provisionally approximated Sph(eromxya, it having the capsules in 

 two groups and a bivalves shell. (Compare carefully p. 278.) 



6. Myxidium must form the type of a separate family, the entirely 

 different position and grouping of the capsules forbidding its reference 

 to the Chloromyxid(e. 



The following table shows the relations of Th61ohan's classification 

 to the one now proposed : 



THfiLOHAN'S CLASSIFICATION. 



No vacu- 

 ole, 2 or 4 

 capsules. 



f Fusiform, 1 capsule at each extremity. Myxidium. 

 Elongated; shell formed of two hollow cone valves 



2 capsTiles : Myxidians. Spores < 



soldered along their bases. Ceratomyxa. 



Flattened-ovoid, more or less elongate. Myxosoma. 

 I Spherical. Sphcerospoia. 

 , 4 capsules : Chloromy xans Chloromyxum. 



1 iodinophile) 



vacuole ; 1 or S Myxobolans. Spore-shell 

 2 capsules. ) 



( Destitute of a tail; capsules 1 or 2. Myxoholus, 

 \ "With a tail; capsules 2. Henneguya. 



PROPOSED CLASSIFICATION. 



Characters. 



Bilateral but not antero-posterior symmetry; 

 capsules iu two groups right and left; no bi- 

 valve shell ; no vacuole. 



Bilateral but not anteroposterior symmetry; 

 capsules in one group (at the anterior end) ; a 

 bivalve shell, with the valve-Junction plane 

 perpendicular to the longitudinal plane; no 

 vacuole. 



Bilateral but not anteroposterior symmetry; 

 capsules in one group (at the anterior end) ; a 

 bivalve shell with the valve-junction plane par- 

 allel to the longitudinal plane; an iodinophile 

 vacuole. 



Bilateral and antero-posterior symmetry; cap- 

 sules in two groups, anterior and posterior; a 

 bivalve shell with the valve-junction plane per- 

 pendicular to the longitudinal plane; condition 

 of sporoplasm unknown. 



