ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
189 
Studies on Chrysomonads. — W. Conrad (Bull. Acad. Roy. Belgique, 
Classe des Sciences, 1920, 167-89, 11 figs.). A description of Synura 
uvella Ehr. and the colony it forms ; of Thallocrysis pascheri g. et sp. n., 
which occurs in isolated unicellular form or as pleurococcoid aggregates ; 
and of Chrysapsis sphagnorum sp. n., which lives inside the cells of 
Sphagnum, and has a peculiar watch-glass shaped chromatophore. 
J. A. T. 
Comparison of Amoebae and Tissue-culture Cells. — Mary Jane 
Hogue (Journ. Exper. Zool., 1922, 35 , 1-11, 3 figs.). Comparison of 
Vahlkampfia patuxent , an amoeba parasitic in the food-canal of the 
oyster, with fibroblasts and leucocytes. The amoebae move much more 
quickly than the fibroblasts ; the amoebae were much better able to deal 
with bacteria. The reactions to stains were different. There are 
differences in the mitochondria and in the taking in of melanin 
granules. Ordinarily when the nucleus and cytoplasm of a tissue- 
culture cell have taken methylene-blue or brilliant cresyl-blue or 
neutral-red stain the cell is said to be dead. Again, in tissue-culture 
cells, when the colour of the neutral-red granules fades and they 
become clear, the cell is thought to be dead. With the amoeba a 
different standard must be used. For the amoeba goes on moving 
actively after the staining of the cytoplasm and nucleus. As they die 
there is a gradually slowing of the movement and in the forming of 
pseudopodia. J. A. T. 
Intestinal Protozoa of Japanese Termites. — Makoto Koidzumi 
(Parasitology, 1921, 13 , 235-309, 6 pis., 5 figs.). Three genera are 
recognized in the Trichonympha series and Trichonympha group — 
large complicated forms with numerous flagella — namely, Trichonympha 
Leidv, Pseudotrichonympha Grassi, Teratonympha g. n. (with numerous 
transverse ridges suggesting a Cestode !). Four genera are recognized 
in the Trichonympha series but Holomastigotoides group — less complicated 
forms with flagella arising in rows, which have a common point of 
origin at the anterior end and wind spirally backwards— namely, Micro- 
spironympha g. n. (with a tubular structure connecting the anterior tip 
of the body and the nucleus), Holomastigotoides Grassi, Spirotricho- 
nympha Grassi, and Holomastigotes Grassi. Then there is the Pyrso- 
nympha series with an axial filament fixed anteriorly and running down 
the body, and with four or eight slender cords starting at the tip of the 
filament and running spirally backwards, fixed on the body wall, to 
the posterior extremity, where they emerge as free flagella. The author 
makes a comparative study of these extraordinary Protozoa. J. A. T. 
Structure and Life-history of Paramcecium calkinsi sp. n. — 
Lorande Loss Woodruff (Biol. Bull., 1921, 41 , 171-80). This new 
species has been studied in pedigree cultures for more than a year. It 
presents an interesting composite picture of P. aurelia , P. bursaria, 
P. putrinum, and P. trichium, with certain distinctive ones of its own. 
The species of Paramcecium fall into the “ aurelia ” group with more 
spindle-like bodies and the “ bursaria ” group which are somewhat 
shorter and broader, with a tendency toward a dorso-ventral flattening. 
