On new species of Scyphidia & Dinophysis. By J. G. Grenfell. 559 



doubt as to what was going on. This is the first record of the mode of 

 reproduction in the genus. 



I was not aware that any theoretical importance attached to this 

 observation till on my return home, I obtained Prof. Biitschli's very in- 

 genious and interesting paper on the relationship of the Vorticellina to the 

 other Ciliata. In this paper Prof. Biitschli limits the Vorticellina to 

 Stein's three families of Vorticellina, Ophrydina, and Urceolarina. He 

 points out that in the Vorticellina the adoral wreath of cilia forms a 

 right-handed spiral, while in Stentor and other Ciliata the spiral is left- 

 handed. He also recalls the fact that in the Vorticellina division is 

 longitudinal instead of transverse, and shows how both these peculiarities 

 can be explained by supposing the Vorticellina to be derived from 

 some such form as Lichnophora. By a change in the orientation of the 

 Vorticellid body the adoral wreath becomes the dorsal surface, the point 

 of attachment to the stalk is the ventral surface, and their division is 

 once more transverse. 



But Saville Kent has shown that Ophrydium Eichornii frequently 

 divides by longitudinal fission, and here is Scyi^dia, a genus placed 

 very close to Vorticella, also dividing transversely. 



If this proves to be the normal method of division in the genus, and 

 if Prof. Biitschli's theory is to stand, it would seem that Scyphidia must 

 be relegated elsewhere, to near SpirocJwna probably. I do not think 

 this a satisfactory solution of the difiiculty. 



But what is to be done with Ophrydium ? This gen as divides both 

 ways, which if hereditary would imply a longitudinal division, as well as 

 a transverse one, in its ancestors among the Ciliata of the Licnophora 

 type. Is not that impossible ? or is the direction of fission determined 

 in some cases by the shape of the animal ? As the other Ciliata are in 

 the habit of dividing longitudinally after conjugation, and have the 

 power of reproducing any part of their body, is it impossible to suppose 

 that the same cause which originally made the elongated Ciliata divide 

 transversely may also act in making the elongated Vorticellina divide 

 transversely to their length ? If this were possible, Ophrydium would 

 be a connecting link between Scyphidia and the Vorticellina in respect 

 to reproduction. The length of this species is about • 00275 in. for a 

 good sized specimen, and the width about half the length. This or a 

 closely allied species is also found on the loach. 



From a surface gathering in Port Koyal Harbour, Jamaica, I 

 obtained the species of Dinophysis show^n in fig. 15. It was common 

 and the only species present. Of the species figured in Stein's great 

 work it most resembles D. Homunculus ; but the position of the pro- 

 jecting foot, which instead of being on the axis of the body lies in a 

 line with the ventral edge of the rest of the body, together with the 

 keel-like ridge on the back, distinguish it at once from tStein's species. 



Saville Kent has described, but not figured, a species, D. caudata, 

 which in some respects is very like this one. The chief points of 

 difierence are as follows : — 



1. In jD. caudata the body is said to be " inflated," and is compared 

 in shape with the body of 1). norvecjica and D. acuminata, which are 

 distinctly rounded in outline. The new species is not rounded at all. 



