Archer — On Chlamydomyxa Labyrudhuloides. 145 



example figured, amply fumislied. with ramifications, and with a tortuous 

 ''lahyiinth" of filaments, as it is, and well laden with spindles, as it 

 appears, after all merely represents what could be seen in a single 

 focal plane, whilst, perhaps, ramifications sufficient to make up several 

 such complex " trees" occur in different planes between the slide and 

 the covering-glass, and which can be made out by focusing up and 

 down, all appertaining to the single main trunk, and derived in a 

 brief period from the great common central head-quarters ; nay, some- 

 times a secondary colony may be carried outwards and left apart at 

 some remote point of the field, this latter now itself giving off minor 

 branches and filaments back towards the metropolis. (See the more 

 distant portion of PI. 14.) 



We have seen that these little bodies are of a homogeneous consist- 

 ence, of a highly plastic nature, and of a bluish hue ; they further 

 appear to have no wall or envelope, that can be detected ; still they do 

 not mutually coalesce, and, however intimately they may be temporarily 

 appKed, a close examination will show their individual contours. I 

 have not been able to see any subdivision of them. Their motion is a 

 gliding one, and, as has been seen, it is always veiy gradual and easy, 

 though sometimes slower, sometimes quicker, without any apparent 

 rule or reason. Just as little rule or reason is evident in the course 

 taken by the individuals, now of one and the same file — one may go 

 the " main road," the other following it may take a " byway." Some 

 reason, so far as it goes, appears why some should travel up the fila- 

 ments and others remain behind in the general mass, in that it is seem- 

 ingly just those which are most external, therefore nearest the place 

 of origin, that is the base, of the filaments, which betake themselves 

 thereon for the journey. 



But if the variable rate and direction of the movement of these 

 bodies be inexplicable, even still more enigmatical appears the cause, 

 or the mochis operandi, of the motion itself. One might suppose, 

 indeed, that, once upon the filament, its elongation would cause the 

 separation of the bodies and give rise merely to a seeming progression 

 one from another. But we have seen their motion is a real one, and, 

 in fact, automatic. They "■ spontaneously" leave the general mass, 

 and, ascending the filament, commence their onward progress, and 

 the latter, when once projected, seems to be even somewhat rigid, and 

 incapable of imparting to them any impetus. The cause of the motion 

 would seem, therefore, to reside in the spindles themselves : they are 

 very plastic — they must seemingly be very contractile. But as they 

 gently and smoothly glide onwards, as if without effort, and free from 

 interruption, no very perceptible change of figure from the spindle- 

 form is usually seen, except the flat form occasionally, or the furcate 

 form more rarely, as before adverted to. In the case of two flattened 

 spindles, they may sometimes be seen gliding at opposite sides of the 

 filament, and one may pass the other with the filament between, and 

 now without any change of figiire, unlike what occurs when two or 

 several meet at the same side and cliistcr together. 



