INFUSORIA. 
67 
minute projections of the delicate transverse ridges seen near the ends of each of the two 
globules belonging to a joint. They do not change their form when heated to redness, or by 
action of hot hydrochloric acid. They fuse with effervescence with carbonate of potassa; 
and the fused mass, when treated with hydrochloric acid, gives silica in abundance. There 
can, then, be no doubt that the glass-like filaments of this species are siliceous. Our species 
agrees in all respects with authentic European specimens (in Herb. Tor.) collected by Hoff¬ 
man Bang, at Hofmansgave. 
Gaillondlob aurichalcea. (PI. 22, fig. 4, 4 a?) Corpuscles elongated, cylindrical, truncate, flattened 
smooth, contiguous; a simple or double pierced furrow in the middle of the body; ovaries greenish, 
becoming golden yellow when dry; line. 
Conferva orichalcea. Ag. (Syst. Alg. p. 86.) Meloseira orichalcea, Ktz. (Linn., 1833, p. 72, 
588, PI. 17, flg. 68.) 
Our species (PI. 22, fig. 4, a, b,) agrees so closely with Kutzing’s figure 68, even in the 
branching character and occasional production of large globular joints (see (c) in fig. 4,) that 
I feel little hesitation in considering it as the G. aurichalcea, although I am unable to per¬ 
ceive the “ sillon perce ” alluded to by Ehrenberg in his specific character. This species 
might easily be mistaken for a Conferva. It often forms bluish green masses, of full a foot 
in extent, and while fresh it is quite as flexible as any Conferva; but on drying, it becomes 
of a light brassy yellow color, and is then excessively fragile. There is much variation in 
the diameter of the filaments, and in the relative length of the joints. The filaments which 
have the smallest diameter, have, generally, the longest joints. They retain their forms when 
heated to whiteness, and when treated with strong nitric acid. This species occurs in springs, 
rivulets, etc., and appears as common in this country as in Europe. In (PI. 22, fig. 4, b,) is 
represented a species of Gaillonella apparently distinct from Figs. 4 and 4 a. It shows the 
pierced furrows, and agrees in most respects with the figure of G. aurichalcea given by 
Ehrenberg in his memoir entitled Die Fossilen Infusorien und die Lehendige Dammerde, PI. 
21, fig. 23. It is, possibly, only a state of our species above referred to. It occurs in ponds 
near West-Point. 
Gaillonella distans. (PL 22, fig. 5.) Corpuscles cylindrical, short, truncate and flattened on the ends, 
smooth; with two pierced furrows, always separated in the middle; to line, usually 
This species occurs in vast quantities in the fossil state in Europe. It constitutes a large 
portion of the slate of Bilin and Cassel, and of the “ berghmehl ” or “ fossil farina ” of various 
localities. It occurs in most of the specimens of American fossil infusoria, which I have seen. 
It is particularly abundant in the specimens from Manchester, Mass., which are chiefly com¬ 
posed of exceedingly minute frustules of this species. It forms here a true fossil farina, 
almost as light as flour, and containing in a cubic inch many hundred millions of these minute 
siliceous shells. It occurs in a living state at West-Point. 
Gaillonella varians. (PL 22, fig. 6. a, b.) Corpuscles flat on each end; cylindrical surface smooth, 
ends with fine radiating lines; ovaries yellow or green; yX^ to line. 
Our Fig. 6, represents a species which is not uncommon in ponds near West-Point. The 
discoid surfaces of the individuals show minute radiating lines quite distinctly. 
