980 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
branous character of the ectoplasm. No traces of change of form or 
place were seen. 
Spore formation.—Beginning with individuals scarcely one-tenth the 
maximum size, the number of spores being then, however, relatively 
as well as absolutely less; number increasing pari passu with growth, 
individuals of equal size not necessarily showing, however, equal num- 
bers. In specimens largest and most rich in spores the latter show 
themselves scattered over the surface at very short intervals, while on 
the borders they form a compact zone visible macroscopically as a white 
ring. 
Pansporoblast?: Myxosporidia of various ages tolerably frequently 
show a spore-foundation [Sporenanlage] in the form of a smaller, more 
elongate, and only delicately outlined oval, containing two small pale 
perfectly round capsules (somewhat removed from the poles), which 
inclose a tolerably large dark biconcave-ended cylindrical rest-body 
(Restkorper). The delicately cutlined oval contracts its bulk, its out- 
line clears up, and the shell and capsules become thicker and very promi- 
nent. Valve-connection takes place through a process of the shell, and 
the spore becomes more ventricose. 
Spore.—Lying outside the vesicles, always arranged in pairs, the lat- 
ter rather irregularly scattered under and only loosely connected with 
the ectoplasm, concentrated in greatest numbers along the borders, 
forming a white ring. Length of mature spore, 12 to 14 uv; breadth, 
9 to 10 4; regularly oval, with blunt ends; spore showing no independ- 
ent movements except filament extrusion. 
Shell rather thick and firm, indistinctly and finely transversely striate, 
possessing the usual resistance to chemical reagents; bivalve, the valve- 
junction plane oblique (like the diagonal of a rectangle), inclined about 
45° to the ‘‘equatorial” [transverse?| plane. . This condition doubtless 
stands, Lutz says, in connection with the position of the capsules at 
either end, one valve lodging each. Around the border of each valve . 
is placed, hoop-like, a little elastic rod, plainly projecting in profile, 
rebounding, when treated with potassium hydrate, in the form of a more 
or less extended band, the valves thereby becoming loosened, a piece 
often being torn away. Lutz remarks that these observations agree 
with Balbiani’s (p. 223). Lutz, however, never saw any connection of 
spore-pairs through the medium of the loosened bands. 
Capsules 2, separated, 1 at each end, subglobular-pyriform, slightly 
sharper anteriorly, glittering strongly in water or in bile, only slightly 
so in glycerin and other refractile fluids; size diminished by extrusion 
of filaments, walls plainly double-contoured. Filaments difficultly per- 
ceivable when fully coiled, plainly visible when half uncoiled; extrusion 
frequent in bile, not so common in water; extrusion also producible by 
various reagents, most certainly by potassium hydrate. Length, 4 to 5 
times that of the spore-length. 
Sporoplasm transparent, first becoming plainly visible after the action 
