THE MYXOSPORIDIA, OR PSOROSPERMS OF FISHES. 87 



the fact that at the same time he practically abandons^ Ms vieic of the 

 adult nature of the '■^ psorosperm^ 



Kunstler and Pitres" think that the capsules " api)car to be true 

 neraatocysts." 



Lndwig:^ accepts the Lenclcart-BUtschli attachment theory, regard, 

 ing the filaments as probably organs of attachment. He says that 

 though little is known as to the conditions under which filainont-extni- 

 sion naturally occurs, spores kept long in water extrude their lilamonts, 

 and adds: 



Probably the filaineiits serve for the attachmeTit of the spores, which have reached 

 the water through the opened tumors of the tish, to auy living or dead substauces 

 whatever. 



Thelohan* comments upon Prof Biitschli's view as follows: 



Biitschli, after having severely criticised that idea [Balbiani's antherozoid theory], 

 compares them to urticant organs. At tlie outset, as Balbianiobst-rves, one can not 

 see what could here ba the rdle and the utility of urticating organs. Further, the 

 filament of tlie polar capsules resembles but little those of the true nematocysts; 

 after their exit they present most often a sinuous aspect, sometimes neatly spiral, 

 which is far from recalling tlie appearance of the urticant filaments which shoot out 

 abruptly from their capsules and jjresent themselves under the form of rigid bayonets. 



Mingazzini^ takes a totally different view from other authors and 

 one which it is impossible to reconcile with the present evidence. In 

 the following passage, besides other errors, the (capsular) filaments are 

 confounded with certain shell-processes (ribbonettes) described by Balbi- 

 ani in Myxobolus ellipsoides, and farther Biitschli's view (given above) 

 of the function of the filament is curiously distorted: 



Many observers have noted (in treating the myxosporidian spore with various 

 reagents) the exit from the polar bodies of a very long filament, which normally is 

 coiled within the polar body. As to the signification of this filament various opin- 

 ions have been emitted. Balhiani thinks that it can serve as the organ of dispersal of 

 the spore, functioning at the maturity of tlie latter in a similar manner to the elatcrs of 

 the Elaterinm spore.- Biitschli expresses the opinion that they caii have the signifi- 

 cation of urticant filainents.'^ But Balbiani has further observed that in the mature 

 spore these filaments are umvound and stand each around either the membrane of its own 

 spore or around that of a neir/hboring spore, and supposes that in the last case the fila- 

 ments have the signification of copulating organs. Again, however, Butschli, not 

 entirely satisiied with his first interpretation, has thought that the function of urti- 

 cant capsules for a spore which has a membrane resistant to acids and alkalies, is a 

 kind of luxury, and that the filaments could serve to attach the spore to other fishes 

 or to feed it [italics my own for errors]. 



From an analysis of the opinions it appears that none of them is entirely satis- 

 factory, while, in my opinion, from what I have seen of the gregarinoid forms, it 

 may be assumed that the polar bodies are nothing else than the embryos of the 

 Myxosporidia, homologous Avith the falciform bodies of the grcgarine and coccidian 

 spores, on which view the filament of the polar body would be nothing else than 

 the tail of the gregarinoid form which remains inclosed in the polar body while 



' Journ. de Microgr., 1883, vii, pp. 198, 201, 276. 



2 Journ. de Microgr., 1884, viii, p. 474. 



3 Jahresber. d. rhein. Fisch.-Vereins Bonn, 1888, p. 33. 

 < Annal. de Microgr., 1890, n, pp. 207-208. 



6 Boll. Soc. Nat. Napoli, 1890, iv, p. 163. 

 6 See above (p. 86). 



