120 



evolved from the lower and first produced individual are 

 merely to a great extent accidentally located attached to the 

 latter, the locomotion of the germs ceasing and development 

 commencing before they succeed in reaching a more distant 

 or a foreign object on which to estabUsh themselves. Some- 

 thing like what may perhaps be cited as a kind of growth in 

 minute Alga3, forming a parallel to that of Clathrulina re- 

 ferred to, is that seen in Sciadium arbuscula, as a constant 

 characteristic of the species, and in Ophiocytium majus as an 

 exceptional circumstance. In the latter, the young plantlets 

 produced by the development of the germs are sometimes 

 stationed, at least temporarily, at the summit of the parent- 

 cell-walls, or along its length, or one upon another, and 

 attached by the lower pedicle-like extremity, just like the 

 younger individuals in Clathrulina, and in one, as in the 

 other case, it would look as if the germs establish themselves 

 merely on the first solid support that became presented. 

 Still, Greef Avould compare this occasional habit in Clatli- 

 rulina almost to a kind of parasitism, and, pushing the 

 matter further, suggests the idea that here the propinquity 

 of the generations to one another is no accidental circum- 

 stance, but an adaptation for the purpose of securing such 

 a proximity of individuals as would be essential for a possible 

 or assumed sexual reproduction, and Avhich Avould be other- 

 wise denied to them, owing to this being a permanently fixed 

 form on a rigid stipes. But if a sexual reproduction truly 

 takes place (by "conjugation" or otherwise), the emerged 

 Actinophryan bodies are just as free as any other rhizopods, 

 and would seem to stand in quite an analogous position, and 

 under similar circumstances, as regards any possible sexual 

 mode of reproduction. On the whole, then, I venture to think 

 the sug<4estions put forward by Greef in this regard, as, 

 at least as yet, very hypothetical. 



To appreciate as completely as the interest of the subject 

 deserves all the valuable considerations and remarks put 

 forward by Greef woidd indeed necessitate a careful ])erusal 

 of his paper in full ; and I am sure I ought to apologise if 

 in so brief an epitome I have failed to indicate as accurately 

 as ought to be the points put forward by him. Those who 

 ■wish to pursue the subject further will have recourse to 

 the original; whilst, perhaps, though I have nought 

 myself to add to what has before been done so much better 

 than I could have hoped, my allusion to it here, and in- 

 corporation of Greef's remarks, may not, I trust, be thought 

 redundant. 



