96 CIENKONESKI'S REMARKS ON DR. STEINS'S 



term extending to the vegetative substance of all plants. 

 "Were the term plnjcoma to be admitted, the phytomata of 

 other classes of plants would also require to be designated by 

 special names, e.g., for the Fungi mycoma, for the Mosses 

 bryoma, for the Ferns pteridoma, would have to be adopted, 

 which the author regards as sviperfiuous, since only two 

 kinds of phytomata need be distinguished on morphological 

 grounds, viz., j)hytoma cormodes for the phanerogamous and 

 higher cryptogamous plants, and plnjtoma thaUodes for the 

 lower cryptogams. The author, therefore, thinks it would be 

 right to employ the term tJiallus to designate the vegetative 

 body of both the Lichens and Fungi. 



The cell is by him expressed by the Greek term cijtis, 

 which is also employed by others, whence the derivatives 

 cytioblastus, cytioplasma, cytioderma. 

 {To be continued?) 



Remarks on Dr. Stein's Doctrine respecting the Acineta- 

 FoRMs. By Dr. H. Cienkowski. 



(rrom the 'Bulletin de la Classe Pliysico-Matliematique de I'Acadeniie 

 Imperiale des Scieuces de St. Petersbourg,' January, 1855.) 



Stein's observations respecting the Infusoria have justly 

 excited great astonishment among the micrographcrs. The 

 wonderful phenomena of " Alternation of Generations " have 

 been represented by this observer as occurring more exten- 

 sively among the Protozoa than perhaps in any other class of 

 animals. The Vorticellina, in consequence of a process of 

 " encysting," are transformed into Acineta, and these again 

 into Vorticellre, by means of internal motile embryos, which 

 are emitted from them. 



In order to arrive at an independent judg-ment with re- 

 spect to these Acineta-forms, I have examined the following 

 species : Podophyra fixa, Ehr., the Acineta connected with 

 it, and Vorticelta microstoma, Ehr. Now, if the doctrine be 

 substantial and not merely hypothetical, two important state- 

 ments should be borne out by facts ; viz., the transition of the 

 Vorticel/a into Podophryce, and, secondly, the transformation 

 of the offspring of the Podopliryce into Vortlcettce. 



Stein arrived at the former conclusion by comparing 

 Podopkryce remaining at an early stage of development with 

 metamorphosed Vorticella-cysts. Among PodophrycB of the 



