k 



RESTING STAt'e OF CHLAM YDOMYXA LABYRINTHULOIDES. 33 



A yellowish colouring matter;, presumably xanthophyll, is ol'tcu 

 associated with the chlorophyll. The disposition of the chlo- 

 rophyll, usually quite diffuse or irregular, is occasionally in 

 comparatively definite patches (fig. 11 a,. d), placed at tolerably 

 regular intervals in the protoplasm. It is impossible to avoid 

 the suggestion that these are incipient forms of the definite 

 chlorophyll granules of higher plants. The red colouring matter 

 occurs with great, though not perfect constancy. It appears 

 to arise from the change of green colouring matter, as is shown 

 by treatment with reagents, when the red often slowly dissolves 

 out, leaving a yellowish green mass of protoplasm. The red 

 colouring matter is sometimes produced in such abundance as 

 to give the Sphagnum leaves a ruddy appearance to the naked 

 eye. The most curious circumstances connected with this red 

 material, and one to which, so far as I am aware, there is no 

 parallel, is, that in a decided majority of the adult cysts which 

 I have examined, a greater or less quantity of red colouring 

 matter, in addition to that which is normally present free in the 

 cell contents, is being stored away in tiny drops or granules 

 under successive laminse of cellulose, and thus curious compound 

 w.nrts, often projecting far into the interior of the cyst, are 

 formed. These can be best studied by compressing the prepara- 

 tion so as to burst the cyst and drive out the protoplasmic 

 contents. These warts are very rare in the smallest specimens, 

 such as fig. 23 d, but are of usual occurrence in the largest. 

 They sometimes commence developing quite early in the history 

 of the cyst, and their component laminse are then continuous 

 with those deposited over the whole interior (fig. 14), while at 

 other times their development does not commence until after all 

 the lamiujje have been laid down (fig. 23 a). 



The curious form represented at fig. 24 has, in addition to 

 two large and well-laminated warts, a curious central pillar. 

 This has evidently been produced by the young mass surround- 

 ing at the moment of outflow a morsel of conferva, which, not- 

 withstanding the thick deposit of cellulose covering it, appears 

 to have continued in life, since its contents are still remaining. 



That the separate laminse of cellulose in such specimens as 

 those figured at figs. 12, 13, 21, 22 of the plate, has been suc- 

 cessfully deposited, the youngest innermost, is beyond all doubt. 

 But these laminse are only separate for a short distance, and 

 soon unite to form the cell wall for the rest of the circumference. 

 The lamination, though, is in most cases apparent, is in some by 

 no means so ; it can usually be brought out by treatment with 

 solution of potash. Here, then, is a distinct case of a cell wall 

 distinctly formed by the deposition of successive laminae, not 

 by intussusception and subsequent differentiation ; an important 



VOL. XXII. NEW SER. C 



