146 THE MICROSCOPE. Oct. 



with other algae, tangled in the roots of water cress in a 

 pond on Staten Island (back of the Moravian cemetery). 

 The beauty and regularity of outline of this plant is re- 

 markable. The drawing was made by Mr. G. Dupuy. 

 In size the plant is only about 5 mm. in diameter or 

 smaller than the head of one of the smallest of pins. 



The plant is enclosed in a globular envelope of trans- 

 parent jelly, the outside of which is of a slight yellow 

 tint, caused presumably by age or some staining material 

 in the water. From a point in the centre of the globular 

 mass sixteen faint silvery -like filaments radiate to near 

 the circumference, where each filament is crowned with a 

 cluster of twelve to fourteen fusiform, curved, bright 

 green cells, each attached to the filament by one end. The 

 cells, in length, are about five times the width. The cells 

 are filled with a green material slightly granular and 

 much condensed at the outer end. A well defined and 

 large nucleus occupies the centre of each cell. The part 

 of the cell nearest the filament is ouly faintly green. 



In Wolle's description of this genus he describes the 

 cells as green, and egg or kidney shaped, united in a 

 globose hollow family, involved in a gelatinous integu- 

 ment. He describes four species : D. pidchelltc?u, Wood, 

 7). reniforme, Bulnh, and D. Hitchcockii, WoUe. The one 

 under consideration does not agree in description witli 

 any of the above species. 



A Note, Incidentally in Regard to the Animality of the 



Diatom, but Especially to Mr. Cunningham's 



Method of Illumination. 



By dr. ALFRED C. STOKES, 



TRENTOX, X. .f. 



In reference to Mr. Cunningham's contention that the 

 diatom is an animal I have nothing to say, except that I 

 do not believe it ; and in regard to his claim that he has 



