1900J MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 43 



they differentiate into current streams forming the meshes 

 of reticulations seen in the larger branches and nearest to 

 it. On the contrary the mode of recession was by at- 

 tension of the dark granular threads which did not snap 

 but after a while seemed to give way from their adhesion 

 to the glass and contract, as if they liad been made of 

 caoutchouc. At last tlie oval creature was near the periph- 

 ery of the Protista when it seemed to project part of its 

 mass outside of the Protista mass and, as if it had punc- 

 tured a hole there, pushed itself through and crept out. 

 Being now free it sailed off lively and was lost. In the af- 

 ternoon I saw the Protista approach a small young branch 

 of what looked like oedogonium, a fresh-water conferva, 

 which had five Gomphonemas growing on it. The Protista 

 surrounded it and I expected to see it encyst the whole 

 mass, but it did not do so. On the contrary, it was a long 

 time before I saw any action, when I saw the Gompho- 

 nemas drop off the larger plan tand become carried away 

 by the currents of the Protista granules. The oedogonium 

 did not seem to be to the taste of the Protista for, during 

 the time I watched it, it was not affected. The finding 

 of these five Gomphonemas attached, in ordinary manner 

 by their smaller ends, but without stipes, to the young 

 oedogonium, which consisted of only two imperfectly 

 formed cells which was growing upon the glass and there- 

 fore must have become attached there in the mobile form 

 and grown before the Gomphonemas became fixed to 

 it and since I put the water into this zoophyte trough 

 raises the question as to how the Gomphonemas came 

 there. Did they 'break off from some other alga, swim 

 about and afterwards attach themselves to the oedogonium ? 

 I think it must have been so as I saw several of them 

 scattered on the glass apparently not fixed but travelling 

 on their valves or connecting membranes after the manner 

 of NaviculsB. 



Since then I have suspected that th is is a fungus be- 



