PROCEEDINGS Or SOCIETIES. 119 



more or less closely related, but all perfectly distinguishable from 

 each other. 



Kev. E. O'Meara showed some new diatoms, descriptions of 

 which will hereafter appear, 



Mr. Archer exhibited specimens of three seemingly distinct forms 

 of an organism, not any of which are by any means uncommon in 

 moor gatherings, but at the same time seemingly not recorded in 

 this country. One of these seemed to be referable to Monas conso- 

 ciata (Fresenius), as figured in his 'Beitrage zur Kenntniss mikro- 

 skopischer Organismen,' which Mr. Archer exhibited (PI. X, fig. 31). 

 This formed minute, but variously sized mucous patches of a colour- 

 less, semipellucid, somewhat granular appearance, the substance not 

 forming, however, a uniform mass, but flattened and gradually 

 expanding branches, arranged in a radiate or fan-like manner, some- 

 times, indeed, almost forming a complete circle. The arms or 

 branches (often several times irregularly divided) more or less ex- 

 panded, to a certain extent in a staghorn-like manner, from the base 

 upwards, or, if forming a circular mass, from the centre outwards. 

 Im^mersed within the gelatinous granular substance, and seated close 

 to the upper outer margin or extremity of the mucous branches, 

 occur more or less numerous greenish, uniciliated, monadiform 

 bodies, whose flagella wave about in the water. Occasionally this 

 radiate or ramified appearance of the basic gelatinous substance 

 seemed to be more obscure, and thus was a certain amount of 

 homogeneity and a more uniform appearance produced. And in 

 such instances the resemblance to the figure given by Fresenius is 

 greater. The form here alluded to presented tufts or masses vary- 

 ing in size. The second form shown is of equally pale colour, and is 

 ordinarily far smaller in mass and of an evenly rounded outline, 

 without evident arm-like extensions ; the centre of the almost disc- 

 like mass is apparently less dense than the outer portion, and more 

 granular in appearance, and the " monads " are located more evenly 

 and equidistantly from the centre, in an annular manner ; and as one 

 looks into the microscope, when present, these organisms render 

 themselves noticeable by this ring-like appearance. The third form 

 drawn attention to is of varying size in the mass, but often seems to 

 reach dimensions not attained by either of the others, and it seems 

 distinguishable from them by its red or brown colour and more dense 

 character ; the mass of indefinite figure, often more or less lobed, 

 but without the expanded ai'm-like or branch-like character of the 

 first. Seated all over the periphery are the " monads." The ciliary 

 motion of the monads in specimens sufficiently small, and thus 

 not impeded by being confined, imparts a, generally indeed very 

 limited, locomotive power to the total " colony." When seen 

 side by side these three forms seemed to off'er ver}^ tangible differ- 

 ences, but he would leave them for further observation before he 

 would venture to .speak more decidedly as regards them. 



2lst JVovemler, 1867. 

 Dr. John Barker exhibited a Chytridium, which, so far as could 



