ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 397 
Life-History of Coccidia.* — Dr. P. L. Simoncl lias studied Coccidium 
oviforme, Coccidium ( Karyophagus ) Scdamandrse. and C. proprium. The 
facts seem at first to point to a polymorphism rather than a dimorphism ; 
but all the forms of the asporulate state are simply phases of one process, 
polymorphic in relation to particular conditions, and contrasted, not with 
one another, but only with the sporulating state. The latter, especially 
in its final resistant stage, exhibits a fixity of characters which makes it 
the essential and typical mode of reproduction. The two modes are 
morphologically and physiologically distinct, like fission and the forma- 
tion of endospores in Bacteria ; the one is a rapid temporary multiplica- 
tion in a suitable environment ; the other, which probably requires an 
antecedent sexual process, secures the rejuvenescence and perpetuity of 
the race. Those forms which seem to have but one mode of multiplica- 
tion require further investigation. All the asporulate forms may be 
considered as one individual or generation which undergoes repeated 
fragmentation ; the true specific reproduction is confined to the sporulate 
condition. 
The new facts shed light upon the life-history of the parasite of 
paludism discovered by Laveran, and corroborate^Metschnikoff’s indica- 
tion of the affinities between this Hasmatozoon and Coccidia. The 
motile stage of Coccidium explains the flagellate bodies of the paludism 
parasite and of Polymitus in birds. In short, the life-histories of 
Coccidia and Haematozoa should be carefully correlated. 
New Myxosporidium.t — M. L. Leger describes a Myxosporidium 
which affects the larvae of Simulium ornatum Meig. It inhabits the 
general body-cavity, the intestinal tract being quite free. It occurs in 
masses, which often have the appearance of thin-walled cysts. Micro- 
scopic examination of these masses shows them to be composed of a pro- 
digious number of spores which are ovoid ’and refracting, and have 
a large vacuole at the expanded end. Under the influence of iodine, a 
filament, twenty times as long as the spore itself, shoots out from the 
pointed end, a fact which indicates that these parasites belong to the 
family ‘ Glugeidse . The spores are of two kinds, small (4-5 yd) and 
large (8 y). Some sacs contain only microspores, and then usually 
in little groups of eight, while others have only macrospores. 
* Ann. Inst. Pasteur, xi. (1897) pp. 545-81 (2 pis.), 
f Comptes Rendus, exxv. (1897) pp. 260-2. 
