370 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
After saying that the contents of the capsule may break up 
into variously shaped masses, of various sizes, and that these 
again subdivide into zoospores, we are told that “ these different 
sets of masses give rise to two kinds of spores, one set producing 
microspores , the other macrospores , bodies having different but 
as yet unknown functions ; but that beyond these different 
stages no observations have as yet gone, the transition from the 
zoospore to the capsule remaining unknown. The zoospores, 
however, have no enveloping membrane, and the young central 
capsules are in like case.* If the capsules proceed from the 
former, the Radiolaria so far resemble the Heliozoa ; and if 
the processes observed by Muller, as existing in the young en- 
closed Acanthometrce, resembled the processes of such organisms 
as Actinosphcerium , we should have another approximation 
between these two groups.” (Memoir, p. 168 .) 
In submitting these lengthy extracts I feel, nevertheless, that 
no apology is demanded of me, inasmuch as it can only be by 
perusing them that the inherent and amazing unsoundness of 
the Radiolarian arrangement is to be adequately estimated. As 
already stated, it is impossible within my present limits to dis- 
cuss in detail the various points connected with the reproduc- 
tion of the composite group — the Thalamophora as they are 
now designated. We have seen how very freely such expres- 
sions as spores , zoospores , microspores , macrospores , flagella , 
spontaneous fission of the contents of the capsule into any 
number of secondary capsules , fat-granules , livers, cilia , 
parasites , alveoli , and “ young capsules ivhich have no enve- 
loping membrane” have been made use of in describing the 
characters said to distinguish “ the group of the lowest animal 
forms called Radiolaria .’ I simply put it to those who are 
practically conversant with the Rhizopods as a whole to say 
whether any organism whatever described as possessing charac- 
ters such as those referred to ought for a moment longer to be 
retained in any classification of these organisms. As for telling 
us that 66 if the processes observed in the young Acanthometrce 
resembled the processes of such organisms as Actinospherium, 
this would be another reason for approximating the Heliozoa 
and Acanthometrce it would, I submit, be just as pertinent 
were we to say that if the Acanthometrce or any other group 
or family whatever of the Rhizopods (with exception of the 
avowedly aberrant Thalassicollidce and Sphcerozoidce), propa- 
gated by zoospores, microspores, macrospores, and so forth, there 
would be reason for approximating them to the Heliozoa. It 
is these “ ifs ” which, in an elaborately written essay, make all 
There surely is some u clerical error ” here ! 
