PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 259 
two thirds, moved with a sudden jerk to the lower part of 
the cell. Some of the granules passed out of the valve, and 
immediately after an anthozoid issued from the cell. Shortly 
after another made its appearance, and another, until six or 
eight had been extruded. All these organisms proceeded in 
the same manner from the valve, and exhibited themselves in 
the same spot, within, what appeared under a quarter-inch 
objective with No. 2 eye-piece, about one sixteenth of an inch 
from the extremity of the valve. In form the anthozoids, if 
at rest, would have presented very much the appearance of a 
spike of thistle-down. The head was of a pale-green colour, 
and round it the tail was lashed from side to side with great 
activity. On the same occasion several forms were observed 
presenting similar appearances, with anthozoids moving 
rapidly about in their immediate neighbourhood. Among 
these were two or three of the species named Cymatopleura 
Solea, but in no case, except the one just alluded to, did I 
observe them issuing from the valve. On the evening fol- 
lowing that in which the preceding observation was made, I 
examined a drop from the same gathering, when a great 
change was noticed to have taken place in the appearance of 
such Diatomaceous forms as occurred, compared with that 
which they presented the evening before. But few granules 
were seen. The endochrome also had changed its colour 
from green to olive, and instead of being diffused through the 
cell, was, in many instances, collected to a narrow band along 
each side of the cell, or at the opposite ends of it. In some 
cases these bands had broken up into isolated portions, and 
in others the valve was as free from endochrome as if it had 
been treated with acid.” 
The President dwelt on the necessity for repeating this 
observation, and suggested whether these were anthozoids 
or spermatozoids. In either case the observation was per- 
fectly new, aud would therefore most probably be disputed ; 
and therefore there was the greater necessity for repeating, 
and, if possible, confirming the observation, and the more 
glory should this discovery be confirmed.—Dudlin Paper. 
