ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
465 
before the enclosing Orbulina sliell is formed. Various stages in tlie 
absorption of the enclosed Globigerina shell are described. 
Classification of Myxosporidia.* — Mr. E. K. Gurley has a pre- 
liminary notice of a new classification of these spore-bearing forms. 
He suggests the use of pansporoblast for the plasma-sphere from which 
the sporoblasts arise ; sporoplasm for the protoplasm of the spore ; 
capsulated index for the ratio of the length of the capsule to the antero- 
posterior diameter of the shell-cavity; pericornual nuclei for the two 
nuclei (“ granules ” or “ globules ”) at the antero-lateral angles of the 
sporoplasm, or on the posterior extremities of the capsule. 
The author’s classification is based on the symmetry of the spores as 
the most important taxonomic criterion ; two orders with five families 
are recognized. The arrangement is as follows : — 
Subclass Myxosporidia ; pansporoblast produces — 
I. Many (at least 8) minute spores, lacking distinct symmetry and 
possessing but one capsule . Order, Cryptocytes 
A. Spores numerous, inconstant ; pansporoblast membrane 
a. Not subpersistent ; a myxosporidium . . . Glugea 
b. Subpersistent ; no myxosporidium . Pleistophora g. n. 
B. Spores constant (8) ; pansporoblast membrane subpersistent, no 
myxosporidium .... Thelohania 
II. Few (7 at most) rather large spores, with distinct symmetry and two 
or more capsules . . . Order, Phaenocytes 
Spores symmetrical bilaterally ; antero-posterior symmetry 
A. Present ....... Cystodiscus 
B. Absent ; capsule on 
a. Two groups, right and left wings ; not bivalve Myxidium 
b. One group, at anterior end ; bivalve ; capsules 
a. Four ...... Chloromyxum 
j3. Two; inclination of plane of junction of valves to 
longitudinal plane 
i. 0° ; a vacuole . . . Myxobolus 
ii. 90° ; no vacuole ; sporoplasm unilateral 
Ceratomyxa 
Spores of Microsporidia.f — M. P. Thelohan has found that the 
spores of a certain number of Myxosporidia have a striking resemblance 
to those of the Microsporidia. This discovery led him to see whether 
the spores of the latter contained, like the former, a capsule with a 
filament. This he has succeeded in observing. One of the difficulties 
in the way is due to the very small size of these spores, and the extreme 
tenuity of the filament. The best way to demonstrate them is, after 
treatment with nitric acid, to allow of the entrance of a few bubbles of 
air under the cover-glass. As the spore of the Microsporidia has alto- 
gether the same constitution as that of the Glugeidae among the Myxo- 
sporidia, those organisms ought to be considered as belonging to this 
last group. 
* Bull. U.S. Fish Corum., 1891 (1898) pp. 407-20. See Amer. Natural., xxviii. 
(1894) pp. 404-6. t Comptes Rendus, cxviii. (1894) pp. 1425-7. 
