74, MEMORANDA. 
cellular plant, to which, from the ameboid character of its 
zoospores and its parasitic habit, he has given the name of 
Amebidium parasiticum. Cienkowski found the plant on 
Phryganea and Gammarus pulex, and also very plentitully on 
the larve of gnats. It is tubular or sac-shaped, unicelluiar 
and variable in form; the largest plants were 0°5 mm. long 
by 0:001 mm. broad; the smallest 0-015 mm. long. In the 
spring they produce in their interior spindle- or sac-shaped 
bodies, which escape through the cell-wall of the mother 
plant, being sometimes projected by the elastic contraction 
of that cell-wall. Pear-shaped zoospores are afterwards 
formed, which, when free, exhibit amzboid expansions and 
contractions, but are distinguishable from Ameba diffluens, 
which they much resemble, by the absence of a contractile 
cavity. These zoospores eventually become motionless, and 
at once produce spindle-shaped bodies (young ameebidia) in 
their interior, or they become transformed into resting spores, 
which, after a time, also produce young amebidia. The author 
concludes that amebidium is a plant belonging to the lower 
Algze or Fungi. He then proceeds to describe a very singu- 
lar growth, as to which he was long in doubt whether it be- 
longed to or was parasitic upon amebidium. He describes 
the stages of development of this growth, which is attached 
to the sides of the amzebidium, and, when perfect, consists of 
a large obovate or pear-shaped cell, crowned with moniliform 
rows of cells like the head of an Aspergillus. He concludes 
that it is a fungus, but of doubtful affinity, and calls it Basi- 
diolum fimbriatum. (‘ Nat. Hist. Rev.,’ vol. ii, No. 8, p. 477.) 
Note on a simple Mounting for any Microscopic Objects.— 
Few microscopists use black japan as a mounting without 
having their objects occasionally spoiled by the running in 
of the cement. Having suffered, like my neighbours, from this 
difficulty, I have sought to obviate it by the use of various 
other methods of mounting, which should combine speed, 
ease, and certainty in their performance. One of these ap- 
pears so far promising in utility, that I am induced to draw 
attention to it. It is performed as follows : 
Little pieces of kid leather, wash-leather, or blotting-paper, 
about one inch square, have circular holes punched in the 
middle, the hole being somewhat smaller than the thin glass 
cover which is subsequently to be used. 
The object having been prepared and placed upon the glass 
slip, or on the cover, if more desirable, one of the pieces of 
leather is brushed over with “liquid glue” (a thickish varnish 
made of shellac and naphtha). When covered on both sides 
