19 14 ] Sharp: Diplodinium ecaudatum 105 



ining microphotographs, figures 23-29, plate 7, it will be seen that no 

 fibrillar layer exists between the skeletal structure and the cuticle 

 nor is there any structure which might correspond to the "Fibril- 

 lenlage. ' ' 



Braune also states that the thin right edge of the ' ' Stiitzapparat ' ' 

 separates the macronucleus from the "Entoplasma b." That this 

 does not hold for D. ecaudatum is evidenced by figures 27-29, plate 7. 



He further holds that the importance of the "Stiitzapparat" lies 

 in its relations to the internal structures and that it serves as a sup- 

 port not only for the gullet, but also for the many longitudinal and 

 transverse fibrillae. As to the relation between skeletal structure and 

 fibrillae in D. ecaudatum reference will be made later, and as to the 

 skeletal structures serving as supports for the oesophagus, the micro- 

 photographs, figures 20-23, 33, show that the oesophagus extends 

 20-24 microns further anteriorly than do the skeletal structures, that 

 there is no direct connection between oesophagus and skeletal struc- 

 ture for another 30-40 microns. Microphotographs, figures 28-30, 

 however, show pretty conclusively that soon after the oesophagus does 

 become attached to the skeletal structure, this latter structure dis- 

 appears. In other words the skeletal structure serves as a fixed organ 

 for the posterior attachment of the contractile or retractile oesophageal 

 strands. Observations made upon the living animals and examinations 

 of the stained sections lead to the conclusion that the important func- 

 tions of the skeletal structure in D. ecaudatum are first of all, to give 

 the characteristic shape and rigidity to the body, secondly to provide 

 a fixed posterior attachment for the retractile oesophagus and a sub- 

 stantial support for the operculum and the macronucleus, and thirdly 

 by a combination of the above to afford protection to all of the body 

 structures. 



Braune 's account of a most remarkable network of fibrillae 

 ("Fibrillenapparat") in 0. purkynjei, is worthy of a more compre- 

 hensive discussion than it is possible to give it here. Only the more 

 important differences between this "Fibrillenapparat" and the neuro- 

 motor apparatus described for D. ecaudatum will be discussed. He 

 says (p. 156), "Mit dem Nachweis dieses auBerordentlichen Fibrillen- 

 reichtums ergibt sich aber die Schwierigkeit, ihrer in der Beschrei- 

 bung gerecht zu werden und von ihrer Schonheit und Harmonic zu 

 berechten, ' ' and his description is, in the main, as follows : 



1. Separating the "Entoplasma a" from the "Entoplasma b" is 

 a saeli-like "Fibrillenschicht (Fig. 38, Fb. sch.) " which is an "auBer- 



