CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ZOOCYTIUM. 
445 
Note on the Chemical Composition of the 
Zoocytium of Ophrydium versatile. 
By 
W. ]). Halliburton, M.I>., B.Sc. bond., 
Sharpey Physiological Scholar, University College, London. 
(From the Physiological Laboratory, University College, London.) 
Ophrydium versatile is a ciliated Protozoon which grows 
iu colonies or social clusters, exuding a common coalescent 
mucilaginous investing matrix or Zoocytium. 1 
Professor Lankester, to whom a large supply was kindly 
brought by Mr. Groom from the canal at Hereford, placed a 
quantity of this material in my hands with the object of deter- 
mining the chemical nature of the jelly. 
The lumps of jelly were on the average about an inch in 
diameter ; the material was firm, colourless, and perfectly 
transparent. On its surface were patches of green due to the 
chlorophyll which is present in the animal itself. 
The diagnosis of the material of which it was composed 
seemed to me to rest between mucin and cellulose ; and it was 
found that the latter supposition was the correct one. 
The percentage amount of solid matter in the jelly was found 
to be *28 of which ’07 consisted of ash, and the remainder 
organic matter. 
By digesting with warm water, a small amount of proteid 
material was extracted, doubtless contained in the protoplasm 
of which the animal itself is composed. This was removed by 
1 Kent, * Manual of the Infusoria,’ vol. ii, p. 733. 
