238 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



by their 7)mch smaller average size, contain a quite distinct species {M. 

 glohosus) which is much smaller, subcircular, and with a much larger 

 capsular index. 

 55. Myxobolus Hntoni Gurley, 1893. PI. 26, figs. 7,8; pi. 27. 



(Psorosperms of Cijprinodon varicgatus, Liuton, 1891, Bull. U. S. Fish Com. for 

 1889, IX, pp. 99-102, pi. 3.5, figs. 1-16; ib. Braun, 1893, Ceutralbl. f. Bakt.u. 

 Parasiteukde, xiii, p. 97.) 

 Myxoholus Hntoni, Bull. U. S. P'ish Com. for 1891, xi, p. 414; i&. of Cyp-miodon 

 [error] variegatus Braun, 1894, Centralbl. f. Bakt. u. Parasiteukde, xv, 

 p. 87. 



Cysts. — Apparently no closed cysts. Fungoid masses of an irregular 

 shape, varying in size from 4 by 2-5 mm., to 10 by 4 mm., projecting 

 as much as 3 mm. above general surface of skin. 



Myxosporidium unknown. 



Spore. — Shape and size very uniform; biconvex lenticular, outline 

 broadly rounded-elliptic, length 13-9 yu, breadth 11 /<-, thickness about 8 

 jj. Shell thick, showing under action of osmic and sulphuric acids a 

 low longitudinal ridge, resisting the action of concentrated sulphuric 

 acid and of potassium hydrate solution and a 10 days' maceration in 

 sea water; staining brown with iodine and deeply when treated with 

 methyl green and eosin; collapsing under action of glycerin. Cap- 

 sules 2, situated and converging anteriorly, pyriform, transparent, 

 refractile, not staining deeply with methyl green and eosin, showing, 

 with osmic acid, a minute pore at anterior end; containing lilameuts 

 which are extruded under the influence of suii^huric acid; filaments 

 when extruded nearly straight, undulate, or more or less closely spiral, 

 of the same thickness throughout, distal ends tenuate. Sporoplasm 

 showing, on addition of acetic acid or after 8 days' immersion in sea 

 water, > " nuclear vesicle" ; in many specimens showing the '' smaller 

 supplemental refractile bodies" represented in pi. 27, fig. 2. Spore 

 associated with calcareous particles of irregular shapes (fig. 14). 



The above is Prof. Linton's description, condensed and rearranged. 

 To it I am able to add, partly by way of correction, the following data: 



Spore. — Shell composed of 2 valves, superior and inferior; easily 

 and rapidly separating in sulphuric acid (cold, concentrated); ridge 

 liresent. Capsules extruding the filaments (alcoholic specimens) in a 

 loose spiral or straight, under the action of iodine water. Sporoplasm 

 showing, with iodine, a rather large vacuole with clearly defined borders. 

 Nuclei, at the most, 4, 2 of which are the pericoruual. 



These 2 specimens were also from the Atlantic, at Woods Holl, 

 Mass. ; collected by Mr. V. N. Edwards, August 1, 1892. 



Habitat. — Imbedded in the subcutaneous tissue of Gyprlnodon varie- 

 gatus (short minnow), taken in the Atlantic at Woods Holl, on August 

 20, 1889; also August 1, 1892. 



Effects. — The skin of the host overlying tliese tumors is more or less 

 cracked and broken, and the scales scattering. 



