Archer — On Chlmnydom i/xa Labyruithuloides. 153 



the question an open one as to '^ whether the tracks represent a system 

 of communicating tubes, or solid interwoven thi'eads." 



The principal difflciilty in his arriving at a conclusion is due to the 

 extreme minuteness of the threads, which scarcely allows of the 

 mutual relation of these to the spindles being observed. The author 

 could not satisfy himself as to whether the spindles executed their 

 movement in a single thread or letween two of them ; as he regards 

 the passage of a spindle, from the main filament to branch, as being 

 compatible with either interpretation. Also, he says the fact that, 

 upon the application of iodine, the contour then seems as standing ofi: 

 from the spindles, directly continued above and below into the fila- 

 ments, may be used in favour of either view ; this contour, with its 

 dependent threads, may be interpreted as the expression of a ' ' tube 

 in which the spindle moves, or as that of two threads in contact 

 longitudinally." The author himself leans to the latter view. 



JS^otwithstanding the seeming fibrous nature of the mass under 

 certain circumstances, and occasional tuft-like pencils of short linear 

 prolongations making themselves sometimes apparent, Cienkowski 

 thinks there is not thereby afforded a reply to the query whence 

 properly the material to form the tracks proceeds ; is it the basic sub- 

 stance of the central body which breaks up into the interwoven 

 threads, or is it the spindles themselves which directly build up the 

 whole framework? He replies, that naked clusters of spindles, or 

 even isolated spindles, without combining basic substance, are so 

 capable, and that the latter takes no share in forming the aggregate 

 framework ; but whether only the apices of the spindles or their whole 

 surfaces contribute to emit it, he expresses himself as uncertain. 



The other species described by Cienkowski, L. macrocystis, agrees in 

 all essential points vdth the foregoing. Its spindles are larger (0-018 

 to 0'025 mm.), of firmer consistence, the nucleus more sharply 

 marked, the contents more granular, than in L. vitelUna, and they are 

 colourless, or a pale yellow tint. ISTeither iodine nor sulphuric acid 

 produces a blue colour. As in the previous species, the spindles in- 

 crease by self-division. This form occurs on the piles at a higher 

 elevation than the preceding, therefore not submerged except by the 

 surf. Hence it is regarded by the author as explicable why, in this 

 form, the spindles are more prone to pass into a " cyst" or " spore." 

 Preparatory thereto, the cells enlarge, become more richly granulate, 

 darker in colour, the spindles become oval, and each acquires, besides 

 its own membranous covering, a thick- walled smooth envelope ; the 

 basic substance possesses a glassy, rather firm, consistence, retaining 

 the outline, like a "mould" or matrix, of such " cysts" as are ejected 

 by force ; on the surface of the cluster there is formed a granular layer 

 of darker colour than in the interior. After a pause, the contents of 

 the encysted "spindles" become divided into four portions, the coat 

 disappears, and they remain free, as motionless globules. This taking 

 place, in many instances produce numerous closely lying little groups, 



