272 REPORT OF THE C(^MMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Micro-chemlslrij. — Tlie parasites were studied fresh (by teasing kidiioy tissue, and 

 examining tliis in a hanging drop, or in fluid media of different kinds), and also 

 after treatment with various fixing and staining agents. In the fresh state, a dilnte 

 solution of potnssium hydrate eaused a swelling of the spore, and brought out the 

 shell and filaments plainly. Glycerin acts well as a medium for the examination of 

 the fresh spore. Probably the best medium to use for the hanging drop is toad's urine. 

 Iodine (aqueous solution) colors the spore a uniform brown. In fixing cover-glass 

 preparations, no advantage was gained by fixing them in alcohol and ether, or in 

 osmic acid, over that obtained by passing the covers through a flame. In the fresh 



state the filaments were made plainer in fixed cover-glass preparations 

 [Page 662.] by a number of reagents. Aqueous methyl blue and Babes' anilin 



water safranin bring the filaments into view quite satisfactorily. 

 As fixing agents, Flemining's solution, Heidenhain's mercuric chloride solution, 

 absolute alcohol, Carnoy's acetic alcohol, and Perenyi's fluid were tried, the first and 

 last being found unsuitable on account of the production of shrinkage and distor- 

 tion. The fixed material was imbedded in xylol paraffin by the usual methods. 

 Numerous separate and combined stains were employed with varying results, the cap- 

 sules with almost all stains showing the greatest affinity for the coloring matter, the 

 degree of affinity varying somewhat in different spores. Pfitzner's sofraniu is espe- 

 cially good, with a striking affinity for the capsules. Ohlmacher's dichromophilism 

 was demonstrated with fuchsin and iodine green (Russell's method), and with 

 safranin and methyl blue (Ohlmacher's method). ''This chromophilous reaction is a 

 very striking and possibly significant phenomenon in these organisms." 



90. Chloromyxum (Sphserospora) perlatum Gurley, 1893. PL 40, fig. 2. 



(Psorosperm of Jeerina cernua, Balbiani, 1883, Journ. de Microgr., vii, pp. 201, 

 204, fig. 44; ih., Balbiani, 1884, Logons sur les Sporozoaires, p. 133, fig. 40.) 



Myxobolus perlahis, Bull. U. S. Fish Com. for 1891, xi, p. 415; ib., Braun, 1894, 

 Centralbl. f. Bakt. u. Parasitenkde, xv, p. 87. 



Ko description (see also p. 265). 

 Hahltat. — On Acerina cernua L. 



91. Chloromyxum (Sphaerospora?) sp. incert. PI. 40, fig. 3. 



Spore of Lota vulgaris, Biitschli, 1882, Bronn's Thier-Rcich., i, pi. 38, fig. 22. 



Cyst nnknown. 



Myxosporidium. — Not described. The sporoblast produces a single 

 spore ?^ 



S2)ore. — Not described. For the reasons given on ]i. 205, the present 

 generic reference of this species is probably the correct one, and the 

 species should be closely coui])ared with C mucronatum. 



Habitat — Ovary of Lota lota L. (= vulgaris)-, ling. 



1 " Each spore in a special transparent membrane." 



