1886.] | a new genus of alge. 31 
in this manner the algal cells have become sufficiently large, they 
divide by planes parallel to the surface of the Tortoise. By this 
process the wedge-shaped masses of algal cells, which in section are 
seen penetrating the Tortoise shell, are formed and the patches of 
aleze increase in size parallel to the surface of the Tortoise, as the 
cell at the thin end penetrates more and more into the Tortoise 
shell, the cells at the opposite end continually divide until at last 
at the thick end of the wedge the outermost portion of Tortoise 
shell is flaked off and new algal cells are exposed to the action of 
the water. (Compare Cunningham on Mycoidea parasitica, Trans. 
Linn. Soc. 1879.) 
If sections of the alga cut as described above are allowed to 
remain in water the cells which are uninjured will grow and 
divide. Those which form the innermost layer, since now the 
pressure from other cells is relieved, grow and form filaments, 
the corner cell of a wedge of cells which is penetrating into the 
Tortoise shell will also form a filament. These filaments grow 
very irregularly and to some considerable length. 
The alga propagates itself by means of zoospores; these are 
formed from the layer of cells in contact with the water. The cell 
about to form zoospores becomes flask-shaped through a kind 
of neck being formed, at the same time the cell-contents are 
divided up into a number of zoospores which are dehisced through 
an opening in the neck. The zoospores have the ordinary pyri- 
form shape with cilia arismg from the clear pointed end. ‘They 
are all exactly alike and of one kind, and swim about for a con- 
siderable time, after which they come to rest and germinate. 
Until the complete life-history of Epiclemmydia is known, its 
exact systematic position cannot be determined ; however, from its 
green colour it belongs to the Chlorophycee, and most likely to 
the sub-order Confervoidee. 
My best thanks are due to Professor Moseley, who in the first 
instance drew my attention to this alga; to Dr H. Gadow, who 
discovered this alga in Portugal ; to the Worts’ Travelling Scholars’ 
Fund, by whose assistance I was enabled to conduct my researches 
in Portugal, and to my friend, Thomas Warden, Esq., of the mines 
of Sao Domingos, in whose house I conducted my researches. 
(4) On a peculiar organ of Hodgsonia heteroclita. By 
WALTER GARDINER, M.A. 
The author gave some account of the gland-bearing organs 
which are found in Hodgsona: one in the axil of each: of the 
foliage leaves. A study of the development of these organs 
demonstrates that they are peculiarly modified leaves, or rather 
