6 PORTER. [Vou. XIV. 
more prominent ring. In some cases, however (Pl. II, Fig. 31), 
the ring at the other end is the thickest. It is not always pos- 
sible to make out an opening at the end opposite that which is 
prolonged into a neck (PI. II, Fig. 23); but when it does exist 
it may be larger than the opening at the neck end (PI. II, 
Figs. 29, 31). A certain amount of shriveling is sometimes 
to be observed on the part of the capsule, but this is less likely 
to affect the neck end than the opposite end (PI. II, Figs. 22, 
29, 30). The orifice at the neck end of the capsule varies in 
diameter from about that of a spore to two or three times that 
size. 
The inner envelope, which does not fill the capsule com- 
pletely, although of a more or less spindle-shaped form, is much 
shorter than the capsule, but of nearly the same diameter, so 
that the space left between the capsule and the cyst is princi- 
pally at the ends. The cyst is really flask-shaped, having but 
a single orifice, which terminates in a more (PI. II, Fig. 22) or 
less (Pl. II, Figs. 23, 30) neck-like prolongation of the end cor- 
responding to that end of the capsule which I have called the 
neck end. The opposite end of the cyst is rounded or slightly 
conical. The orifice sometimes exhibits a thickened rim; it 
varies a little in diameter, being usually somewhat smaller than 
that of the capsule, and of a size sufficient to allow the passage 
of only one spore at a time (PI. II, Figs. 22, 29, 32). 
In the early stages of spore formation the cyst is completely 
filled by its protoplasmic contents. In later stages nearly or 
quite all of the contents is concentrated into the spores, which 
then by no means fill the cyst completely. 
Very frequently the whole cyst and contents slip out of the 
capsule (Pl. II, Figs. 26, 32). Not knowing this, I was at first 
greatly perplexed at being unable, as I supposed, to stain the 
spores. I prepared my slides by first breaking open the living 
cysts by slight pressure on the cover glass, and then killing, 
fixing, and staining on the slide, as one would in preparing 
bacteria. After such treatment I almost always found, much 
to my astonishment, that while thousands of sporocysts 
remained fixed to the slide, nothing was stained. I attributed 
this to the inadequacy of the stain, and not until after trying 
