CHLAMYDOMYXA LABYRINTHULOIDES. 129 
(Hiackel). But, whilst it as yet shows no “ fructification,” 
no reproductive process, in any more strict sense of the word, 
a decision as to its real nature must remain in abeyance. 
Meantime, in itself and its specialities, it is an existence 
quite distinct from any other hitherto described, at least so 
far as I have noticed. 
I am myself very strongly inclined to hold by the view 
that Sarcodic existences (at least those of the fresh waters), 
that is, “ Rhizopoda,’ in a broad sense, embracing various 
types, simple as they are, are, in fact, very fixed and per- 
manent organisms. Bound up with certain “ forms” seem 
to be their own inherent specialities of structure and of 
texture, their peculiarities of temperament (if one might be 
allowed to use the word in relation to so lowly objects), their 
idiosyncrasies of behaviour, of manner, of habit, their pecu- 
liarities of colour, or its changes, their greater, or less, pre- 
dilection for crude ‘ food,” or seeming total abstinence ; and 
although the present organism cannot be looked upon as 
belonging to Rhizopoda, it is, at least, not less strongly 
marked than any of the not very numerous but yet mul- 
tifarious sarcodic existences which the fresh waters, 
more or less abundantly or scantily, offer to notice. But 
still any generic or specific ‘‘ characters’ that could be 
ascribed to it would seemingly be of but a temporary or 
artificial nature, pending its further history. Since I first 
met with it, it has pertinaciously refused to present any 
additional particulars as to its development. ‘The nearest 
site at which I know it to occur is some sixty miles from 
Dublin, but I am inclined to suppose it will not turn out to 
be very uncommon, and at other seasons, or other localities, 
to other observers, it may unfold more of its history and 
further data, to throw a light on its true nature. 
Ad interim, it may perhaps be well to epitomise its descrip- 
tion, without attempting to refer it to any special class or 
order for the present, under the name of 
Chlamydomyxa labyrinthuloides, n. g. et sp. 
Generic characters :— 
Body substance enclosed in a multilaminated cellulose 
envelope, whence, through an apparently lacerated aperture, 
the non-nucleated granule-bearing protoplasmic contents 
now and again emerge, irregularly giving off at the same 
time in an arborescent manner gradually tapering rami- 
fications, and emitting numerous extremely slender hyaline 
ramifying threads (“ filamentary tracks ”), occasionally 
coalescing and forming a more or less complex “ labyrinth,” 
along which proceed from the central mass (as from a reser-~ 
