ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 523 



single large spore. A portion of the plasma of the cyst is implicated 

 with the nuclei in this spore-formation. The four other nuclei and 

 the rest of the granular mass of the cyst remain unused and become 

 liquefied. The spore, resembling a Navicula, produces in its interior, 

 besides a residuary nucleus, a certain number of falciform corpuscles, 

 each provided with a nucleus. 



Social Heliozoan.* — Prof. J. Leidy describes a singular Heliozoan 

 from Lake Hopatcong, N.J. The animal occurred mostly in groups 

 composed of numerous individuals ; one, of irregular cylindroid shape, 

 0"84 mm. by 0*36 mm., contained upwards of a hundred individuals. 

 They reminded one of a mass of tangled burs. They remained nearly 

 stationary even for twenty-four hours, and exhibited so little activity 

 that, without careful scrutiny, they might readily be taken for some 

 inanimate structure. The individuals composing the groups appeared 

 to be connected only by mutual attachment of their innumerable rays, 

 and none were observed to be associated by cords of protoplasm ex- 

 tending between the bodies of the animals, as seen in Baphidiophrys 

 elegans. They were of two kinds — some active and a smaller propor- 

 tion which were in an encysted, quiescent condition. 



The active individuals resembled the common sun-animalcule. 

 The body measured from 0"024 to 0'036 mm. in diameter — in the 

 encysted individuals usually about 0'02 mm. The active individuals 

 were observed to feed on two species of minute monads, which were 

 swallowed in the same manner as in Adinoplirys. After some hours 

 a few individuals appeared to have separated from the surface of one 

 of the groups, but they were as stationary and sluggish as when in 

 association with the others. 



The species is apparently distinct from others previously noticed 

 and may be named BapMdiophrys socialis. 



Living Organisms in Brickwork.j — "Wherever Science looks with 

 " close and careful eyes life appears to be found. The deepest sea- 

 " soundings reveal the existence of cephalopods, brittle-stars, or lower 

 " genera ; the upper waters are full of invisible creatures ; the dust of 

 " the air is laden with germs and inf.;soria; and there is no part of 

 " any living bodies but seems to be peopled with countless parasitical 

 " dwellers. It is a little surprising, however, to be told that the 

 " decaying bricks of all our buildings in London and elsewhere are 

 " densely inhabited by special animalcula. This, however, is posi- 

 " tively announced by M. Parize, who declares himself to have seen 

 " with the Microscope, in every portion of crumbling, weather-worn 

 " brickwork, minute living organisms, which are the real destroyers 

 " of the surface and even the walls of buildings. The harder the 

 " brick the fewer these tiny burrowing things would be ; but 

 " wherever the walls are seen to be ' weathered ' there they are 

 " declared to exist, making their invisible lodgings in the material 

 " which would seem so impervious. We do not answer for the 

 " accuracy of these observations, but they cannot be called ridiculous 



* Proc. Aeatl. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1883, pp. 95-6. 

 t Ikuly Telegraph, 3rd April, 1883. 



