404 The American Naturalist. [May, 
RECENT LITERATURE. 
On the Classification of the Myxosporidia, a group of pro 
zoan parasites infesting fishes. (Art. 10, Bull. U. S. Fish Commission 
for 1891, pp. 407-420. Washington, D. C., 1893). By R. R. Gur 
ley. 
This paper is a communication preliminary to a more extensive 
report at present in manuscript. Several new terms are introduced, & 
new classification is proposed, three new species described and twenty 
‘Species mentioned by other authors, but not named, are given binomi- 
al names. All of these species will be figured in the final report. 
The new terms are as follows: pansporoblast, the plasma-sphere from 
which the sporoblasts arise; sporoplasm, the protoplasm of the spore; — 
capsular index, the ratio of the length of the capsule to the antero-pot 
terior diameter of the shell-cavity ; pericornual nuclei, the two nude 
(“ granules,” “ globules”) at the antero-lateral angles of the sporoplasm 
or on the posterior extremities of the capsule. 
‘Gurley’s classification is based upon the symmetry of the spore 
the most important taxonomic criterion and differs from Thélohan s 
classification in several particulars. Two orders with five families arè 
recognized. One new genus (Pleistophora) is proposed; Sp 
Th. and Myzosoma Th. are fused into a subgenus Spherospora “7 
genus Chloromycum Ming. The following key, based se cs 
tables and descriptions will show the plan of his classification. 
Subclass Myxosporidia ; pansporoblast produces— a 
I. Many (at least 8) minute spores, lacking distinct symmetry 
possessing but one capsule Ord. Oryptocyeet: 
A. Spores numerous, inconstant ; pansporoblast membrane is Th. 
a. Not subpersistent; myxosporidium present Gen. Glug’: 
b. Subpersistent ; myxosporidium absent Gen 
B. Spores constant (8); pansporoblast membrane elohanis 
subpersistent; myxsoporidium absent Gen. T Heo. 
II. Few (2 at most) rather lar: ith dis- enocyste® 7 
: ge spores with dis 
tinct symmetry and two or more capsules Ord. By a 
Spores symmetrical bilaterally ; antero-posterior symmetry F godio | 
A. Present Ce” 
