CLADOTHRIX DICHOTOMA. 493 



added here in the form of an appendix, their cycle of develop- 

 ment is quite unknown, and it is doubtful whether they 

 should be classed among the fission fungi. 



Streptothrix Foersteriis the name given by Cohn to a thread- Streptoth 

 like fungus which he found in the concretions in the tear- 

 ducts of the human eye. This organism consists of fine 

 colourless threads, usually straight, but also sometimes 

 twisted, these threads showing at times, though seldom, dis- 

 tinct branching. The threads of leptothrix buccalis are 

 thicker, straighter, stiffer, and unbranched, and thus differ 

 from streptothrix. Nothing is as yet known as to the position 

 and the mode of development of this organism. 



Spliserotilus natam. Cells 4 to 9 /*. in length, 3 /*. in thick- Sphaerotil 

 ness, roundish or elongated ; they occur united in rows in 

 large numbers in the interior of colourless gelatinous sheaths, 

 forming long threads which appear as floating flakes, densely 

 felted like a tress of hair. Multiplication occurs by isolated 

 vegetative cells which develop new threads by continued sub- 

 division. They reproduce themselves by means of spores 

 which are formed endogenously in the vegetative cells. It 

 occurs in stagnant and flowing water ; the younger flakes are 

 colourless, the older yellowish-brown ; when spore formation 

 is taking place they are sometimes milk-white in colour, and 

 sometimes red.* 



Spiromonas. Cells flat like a leaf, twisted around an ideal Species of 

 long axis. Multiplication by transverse division. 



Spiromonas volubilis. Colourless, transparent ; rapid move- 

 ments and rapid turning around the long axis ; length, 15 to 

 18 jh 



Spiromonas Oohnii. Colourless cells very pointed at each 

 end, with a flagellum, and with 1^ turns. Breadth of the cells 

 1'2 to 4 /*. It occurs in very putrid water.f 



In very foul watery fluids a number of minute organisms Red putrc 



frequently develop in addition to the Clathrocystis roseo- tlve . 



. . -. -,TI . . organisms 



persicina described above, these organisms being also charac- 

 terised by their reddish colour, and possibly belonging to the 

 cycle of development of that fungus. They form red flakes 

 on all sorts of detritus at the bottom of the water, but they 

 swim at times on the surface ; even in the most marked 

 putrid condition of the water they do not die, but on the con- 

 trary apparently take part in the putrefactive process. They 

 are grouped together under the general name of the " peach- 

 red putrefactive organisms." No chlorophyll substratum 

 can be recognised in the colouring matter, and hence these 

 organisms are more properly classed with the fission fungi 



* After Kabenhorst- Winter, Lit., p. 1. 



f Beit r aye z. Biol d. Pflanzen, vol. i., Part 3. 



