40 A FLOKA WITHIN ANIMALS. II. 



very generally studded, at irregular intervals, with circular or oval plano-convex 

 patches, from the -^-^-^-^ to the j^j of an inch in diameter, and the y 5V0 ^ ^^e 

 j-^^-g of an inch in thickness, composed of an exceedingly fine granular substance, 

 yellowish or brownish in color (PI. VIII. 2, a) . When the patches are larger, they 

 are more or less lobulated at the circumference, and have the appearance of being 

 composed of several smaller ones which have run together. 



These patches do not originate in a mere deposit of particles of food upon the 

 mucous membrane ; and though not composed of organic cells, or their transforma- 

 tions, but only of the minutest granules, measuring from the j-o^q-q} or even less, 

 to the aTToTTo ^^ ^^ i^^^ i^ diameter, yet their character is phytoid. Truly para- 

 sitic, they firmly adhere to the mucous membrane, and increase in breadth by 

 growth at the edges. The latter, from their thinness, give the appearance to the 

 patches as if they possessed a distinct translucent border. 



Sometimes the patches have a faintly radiated appearance, which is especially 

 distinct at the translucent margin. 



Besides these patches, there not unfrequently exist irregularly oval or ovate 

 bodies attached to the mucous membrane, amorphous in structural appearance, 

 translucent, of a deep-amber color, and measuring from the x^V^ *o the 3^^ of 

 an inch long, by the ^ q^V^ '^o ^be -^^-g of an inch in breadth (b) . These bodies 

 often become the nucleus of growth of the granulo-phytoid patches, and either or 

 both form a favorable nidus of attachment to Arthromitus and Cladophytum. 

 None are ever observed growing upon the exterior of the nematoid entozoa, infest- 

 ing the ventriculus of Julus marginatus. 



Within the ventriculus of Passalus cornutus, the hair-like appendages, which 

 everywhere cover the surface of the mucous membrane, are constantly more or less 

 enveloped in a granulo-filamentous phytoid substance. As in the case of the phytoid 

 patches of the ventriculus of Julus marginatus, this substance is not a mere deposit 

 of particles of food, but a regular parasitic growth (PI. VIII. l,c; IX. 2, c). Upon 

 the long hairs (PL VIII. 1, 6), which fringe the transverse folds between the 

 ventricular sacculi, this matter accumulates to the thickness of from the ^oVq to 

 the j^j of an inch. When a mass is compressed, it has a faintly radiated appear- 

 ance from the centrally inclosed hair. 



The color of this peculiar phytoid substance is ochreous yellow, passing into 

 brownish at the surface of the masses (PI. IX. 2, c). 



Frequently, it is observed accumulated upon the summit, or upon any part of 

 the length of the hairs (PI. IX. 2), into round or oval masses, of a yellowish-brown, 

 brown, reddish-brown, or light-yellow color, with a more or less thick external 

 stratum, of a faint-yellowish hue, and radiate appearance. 



From the granulo-filamentous phytoid substance a vast profusion of Arthromitus, 

 Cladophytum, and Gorynocladus grow, radiating from the surface of some masses 

 in every direction, from the summit alone of others, or hanging in festoons, the 

 whole together presenting a most wonderful appearance, and needing no stretch 

 of the imagination to perceive the resemblance to a most intricate forest, height- 

 ened to a very great extent by the natural anatomical arrangement of the ventri- 

 culus (PI. IX. 1). 



