116 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



'3. iSphcvrospora and Myxosoma do not <lit1ei- at all in the characters 

 given (the distinction between these unispecitic genera resting solely 

 u])on the outline of the spore), and the two taken together present only 

 a single character in contrast to Chloronii/xum, viz, the number of the 

 ca])sules. They may therefore be fused as a subgenus of Chloromyxum. 



4. Geratomyxa agrees sufficiently closely with (Jhlvromyxum to permit 

 its reference to the Chloromyxidfr. 



5. Gystodiscus is certainly entitled to separate family rank. To it may 

 be i)rovisionally approximated 8ph(vromxya, it having the capsules in 

 two groups and a bivalve; shell. (Compare carefully p. 27H.) 



6. Myxidium must form the type of a separate family, the entirely 

 ditterent position and grouping of the capsules forbidding its reference 

 to the Chloromyxidcc. 



The following table shows the relations of Th61ohan's classification 

 to the one now proposed: 



THfiLOHAN'S CLASSIFICATION. 



2 capsules : Myxidians. Spores 



No vacu 

 ole, 2 or 4 ■ 

 capsules. 



f Fusiforui, 1 capsule at each extremity. Myxidium. 



I Eloucated; .shell formed of two hollow cone valves 

 soldered along their bases. Ceiatomyxa. 



riatteued-ovoid, more or less elongate. Myxosoma. 



[ Spherical. Spheerosiwra. 



4 capsules : Chloromy xans Chloromyxum. 



1 iodinopliilo ) f Destitute of a tail; capsules 1 or 2. Ifyxobolus. 



vacuole: 1 or >Myxobolans. Spore-shell . < 

 2 capsules. ) ( AVith a tail; capsules 2. Hennegitya. 



PKOPOSED CLASSIFICATIOISr. 



Genus. 

 Myxidium 



Geratomyxa 



Chloromyxum, et sub 

 geii. SphceroHpora (in 

 eluding Myxosoma). 



Myxoboltu 



Henncguya 



Cystodiscui 



? Sphceromyxa , 



Famuly. 



Myxidiidce. . . 



Chloromyxidce . 



Myxobolidte. 



Gystodincidce 



Characters. 



Bilateral but not anteroposterior symmetry; 

 cax>sulcs in two groups right and left; no bi- 

 valve shell ; no vacuole. 



Bilateral but not autero-posterior symmetry; 

 capsules in one y:roMp (at the anterior end) ; a 

 bivalve shell, witli tin- valvc-Jniution plane 

 perpendicular to the longitudinal plane; no 

 vacuole. 



Bilateral but not antero-posterior symmetry; 

 capsules in one group (at the anterior end) ; a 

 iiivalve shell with the valve-Junction plane par- 

 allel to the longitudinal plane; an iodinophilo 

 vacuole. 



Bilateral and ant^^ro-posterior synunetry : cap- 

 sules in two gT()H))s. ;interi(ir and posterior; a 

 bivalve shell \\ itli the vah f-Junction plane per- 

 pendicular to the longit udinal plaIu^; condition 

 of eporoplasm unknown. 



