136 REPORT—1874. 
But perhaps the most remarkable point of structure is to be found in a peculiar tissue 
which is developed between the endoderm and ectoderm of the tentacles. It occupies 
the summit of the tentacle, where it is interposed between the continuation of the 
fibrillated membrane of the body and the ectoderm, forming here a hemispherical 
cap over the endodermal cavity of the tentacle. It is composed of colourless, 
transparent, closely applied prisms, which extend at right angles to the walls of the 
cayity. It strongly suggests the rod-like tissue of the retina. 
On Chlamydomyxa labyrinthuloidea (n. g. et sp.), a new Sarcodic Freshwater 
Organism. By WitLtam ARCHER. 
This paper gives an account of a novel sarcodic organism from fresh water, 
presenting a very considerable resemblance to those two congeneric marine forms 
regarded as the type of a new family instituted by Cienkowski, and named by 
him Labyrinthulea. In Schultze’s ‘ Archiv fiir mikr. Anatomie,’ in a memoir 
entitled “Ueber den Bau und die Entwickelung der Labyrinthuleen ” (see 
also Quart. Journ. Mier. Sci. vol. vii. p. 277), that author gives an account of the 
new organisms so named, found by him amongst alg on piles in the harbour of 
Odessa. These, as stated by him, are characterized by being composed of three 
elements or constituents—the central mass, the spindles, and the filamentary tracks 
(“ Fadenbahn,” Cienk.). In the organism now brought forward we have all these 
elements—that is to say, the central sarcodic ‘‘ body-mass,” the ‘‘spindles,” and the 
“filamentary tracks.” In all the filamentary tracks are minute, extremely slender 
hyaline threads, emanating from the central mass, stretching far and wide into the 
surrounding water, and forming an irregularly connected, much ramified, arbo- 
rescent framework, along which the spindle-shaped bodies travel slowly in great 
numbers, away from the central “ headquarters.” But the main distinction (apart, 
of course, from minor differences of colour and the like) between the “ spindles ” in 
Cienkowski’s forms and the present is that in the latter they are not nucleated, 
whilst in the former they are. Another distinction is that in the present organism 
the aggregate body-mass presents a remarkable tendency to become repeatedly 
encysted or coated with a thick hyaline multilaminated covering, the densely arbo- 
rescent body-mass being only now and again protruded through a torn-like opening 
in the covering; this covering gives the saltnioes reaction on the application of 
iodine and sulphuric acid. Another important distinction lies in the fact that the 
body-mass possesses, immersed in its substance, numerous irregularly figured deep 
crimson-coloured pigment-granules, giving to the organism, viewed under mode- 
rate powers, a decidedly red colour. A further difference of importance in the 
present form is its “ parasitic ” habit, or, at least, the fact that in a younger state of 
existence it inhabits the cells of aquatic plants, such as Sphagnum, the immersed 
leaves of Eriophorum, sedges, &c., or (in Connemara) the tissues of Eriocaulon ; 
from these hosts it protrudes by-and-by, becomes re-encysted, and at last removed. 
A minor distinction occurs in the fact that the spindles here are of a bluish hue, 
not, as in Cienkowski’s forms, either orange-coloured or colourless. 
This curious organism is manifestly one of which at present no record exists; its 
true nature is somewhat probiemntic, its “ facies” is that of a “ Labyrinthulean,” but 
the non-nucleated spindles are seemingly a bar to its admission as yet to a place 
in that group; it does not resemble any of Hackel’s Monera, it has no seeming 
immediate affinity to Rhizopoda, and, so far as we can see, must continue for the 
present an isolated problematic production which Mr. Archer would mean time 
suggest should remain in abeyance, standing under the designation Chlamydomyxa 
labyrinthuloidea, A lengthened description and illustration will appear elsewhere 
of this curious and puzzling organism. 
Further Researches on Kozoon Canadense. 
By Wii B. Carrenter, V.D., LL.D., F.RS. 
_ The Foraminiferal character of the Serpentine Limestone of the Laurentian forma- 
tion in Canada having been recently again called in question, the author has been 
