145 
and it may take a long time, and the result of many fortu- 
nate observations, but seldom, indeed, obtained, to dispel all 
obscurity that may exist. 
I have taken the opportunity, as possibly not unconnected 
with the question, to insert on the accompanying plates a 
couple of sketches of an organism, previously adverted to by 
me,’ very enigmatical in itself, but curious as presenting so 
close a resemblance to a specimen of Diplophrys without 
pseudopodia, or these retracted, and irregularly surrounded 
by a cluster of minute diatoms and fragments of larger dia- 
toms, as well as various fibrous elements and indescribable 
‘‘bits of things,” forming a kind of “ nest,” in which it 
occupies the centre. Sometimes this “ nest” is almost wholly 
made up of diatoms (fig. 9), and at others heterogeneous in 
materials, and sometimes not any diatomaceous frustules are 
to be seen (fig. 10). This aggregation of foreign bodies 
seems to be held together by a very delicate and very pellu- 
cid colourless connecting medium, but what relation this 
latter may have to the body itself is problematic ; the whole 
usually possesses a decided more or less oval general shape, 
although, as in undoubted Diplophrys, the body within is 
nearly quite orbicular, not rarely, however, more or less, 
though but slightly, longer than broad, that is, broadly- 
elliptic. The body suspended within has the faintly granular 
aspect and somewhat palish-blue hue of that of Diplophrys 
itself, and the same larger or smaller orange or amber coloured 
shiny oil-globule—this oil-globule not always uniform in 
shade, sometimes a reddish-orange at one side passing off 
into a greenish-yellow at the other. This form occurs of 
yarious sizes. It has never yet shown any pseudopodia or 
other external portion of structure, nor any movement. It 
is widely distributed in this country, though not abundantly 
present in any gathering made; nor, indeed, is it often en- 
countered, which, however, may be due rather to its very 
minute size causing it to be overlooked ; it is, however, more 
frequently seen than Diplophrys, though the latter sometimes 
occurs more numerously in a gathering than the former 
seems ever todo. A curious question arises as to when or 
how this puzzling organism, so inert as it appears, can collect 
and pose the heterogeneous foreign bodies forming the “nest’’ 
in which it becomes embosomed. 
In thus once more drawing attention to the forms imme- 
diately in question in this additional note thereupon, I do 
not suppose the subject is by any means disposed of or 
exhausted ; it is quite possible that, by good fortune, some 
' Loe. cit., Vol. IX, N.S., pp. 323-4; also Vol. X, N.S., pp. 102-3. 
