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handle-like process. In the other form which seems identifiable 
with Synerypta volvox (Ehr.) every one of the constituent monads 
going to make up a colony seems to become encysted, and, un- 
attached to any stipes, they form a considerable sized rounded 
ageregation of rather large yellowish thick-walled globular bodies 
involved in a hyaline matrix, probably the softened down and en- 
larged so-called “lacerna.” In Synerypta, then, we would appear 
to have the rhizopodous and the globular encysted state parallel to 
and comparable with those conditions of Magosphera; in Syn- 
ura only the latter has as yet evinced itself. Now, a question 
had suggested itself to Mr. Archer as to whether the rhizopodous 
or amoeboid state in these, even in Magosphera, was to be re- 
garded as an essential or constant phase in their life-history, but 
rather as exceptional, or, at least, not recurring during each and 
every cycle of development—that is, may the “‘ infusorial” or the 
“volvocine” state pass normally into the encysted (“ Hi-Stadium”’), 
without assuming the rhizopodous phase ? May it be, indeed, only 
as it were exceptional circumstances which induce the exceptional (?) 
rhizopodous state even in Magosphera? At least, in the fresh- 
water forms, especially leaving the typical Volvocinacez out of 
view, it must be considered rare. Certainly, at least, in the 
fresh-water forms, and taking into view not only such as Synura 
and Synerypta, but also Volvox, Pandorina, and Stephanosphera, 
it would seem to Mr. Archer as if the rhizopodous state was 
more prone to evince itself when the subjects are cultivated in 
restricted quantities of water, but he would not build very much 
on that, which may not be fully borne out. At least, however, it 
has occurred to himself to see the polymorphous condition of the 
“ primordial cells’? of Volvox and of Stephanosphera in examples 
in captivity on a growing slide; and of Pandorina when kept 
in a bottle for some time in the house. Haeckel’s examples of 
Magosphera were, it would also seem, confined in a watch-glass. 
On the other hand, the specimens in which the condition reterred 
to in Synerypta was observed were tolerably freshly taken. This 
fugitive record of the curious state of Synerypta which Mr. 
Archer had noticed he thought might be worth a small place in these 
Minutes ; taken in connection with the presumptive relationship 
of it and Synura with Magospheera, should it be borne out by sub- 
sequent observation, it may, indeed, become a question whether 
the two fresh-water forms mentioned will turn out to belong to 
“ Catallacta,” or whether that Order fall away and Magosphera form 
a marine representative of Volvocinacez, connected with the 
typical fresh-water genera, through Synura and Syncrypta, if not 
also Uvella and others. Should good fortune place in Mr. 
Archer’s way an opportunity to confirm or enlarge the observa- 
tions here attempted briefly to be chronicled, it might be worth 
while to endeavour to convey a more exact idea by aid of a 
drawing, as well as to try to draw attention to the distinctions 
and characteristics, which appear here to exist, more at large. 
