1895.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. V 



full in bagging one or two may well feel as much ex- 

 ultation as the sportsman does over his capture of larger 

 game. 



Living diatoms occur to a greater or less extent in the 

 mud or attached to water plants. Surirella, Pinnularia, 

 Nitzschia, Stauroneis and the curious form Amphiprora 

 are not infrequent. 



Closterium and Sarcina are sometimes so abundant as 

 to cover the bottom of the tanks with green patches. 

 The latter appears of a dark bluish green color, while 

 the former is a lighter and brighter green. By this dif- 

 ference in tints one is able to determine the presence of 

 these genera ere subjecting the material to examination 

 under the microscope. 



Euglena viridis may often be known by the appearance 

 of green cloudy masses, or streaming bands in the tanks. 

 It does not here occur as a thick powdery green scum 

 like that often seen in the open air in shallow stagnant 

 pools. 



Other infusoria thrive in great numbers both as to 

 genera and species. The very curious genera Rhipido- 

 dendron, Spongomonas and Anthophysa were obtained 

 in gatherings from the tanks. Actinophrys, Leucophrys 

 and Spirostomum will be met with from time to time. 



Bacteria, concerning which so much has been said in 

 the papers and journals, are always to be found. They 

 are most abundant around bits of decaying vegetable 

 matter. In connection with them in such situations 

 Paramecium is usually to be seen. When this inf usorian 

 is in a favorable position under the glass, a current of 

 pale granular may be detected swiftly flowing into the 

 funnel and collecting into a globular mass at its termi- 

 nation. This ball keeps increasing in diameter for some 

 time, then it separates and slowly floats away among 

 other food-balls within the body of the animalcule. At 

 least two or three of these balls are formed every minute 



