In this species plasmogamic union of two or more individuals (up to twenty) is frequently observed. Such colonies may similarly divide, and in this way monstrosities frequently arise. When drying of the fæces, or deficiency of food occurs, encystment takes place apparently spontaneously. The whole body, as stated by Cienkowski, issues from the shell, assumes a spherical shape (probably with discharge of water) and becomes surrounded with a thick membrane (fig. 14). After the addition of water and the escape of the encysted Chlamydophrys, a new shell must be formed. Schaudinn, who has not given a more detailed description of the process of encystment in this species, but refers to Cienkowski and to similar observations made on Centropyxis, states of the latter that the encystment takes place within the shell.
Fig. 14.—Chlamydophrys enchelys, encysted; on the left the old capsule. × 760. (After Cienkowski.)
The sexual multiplication is accompanied by shedding of all the foreign bodies and of the degenerating nucleus. The protoplasm, now contracting into a sphere, remains behind in the shell with the chromidial mass. From the latter several new nuclei arise (sexual nuclei) often eight in number. The cytoplasmic sphere then segregates into as many spherical portions as there are nuclei present. When they have assumed an oval form, two flagella develop at one pole and the flagellispores swarm out of the shell.[35] The biflagellate swarm-spores, or gametes, copulate in pairs and apparently the individuals of the pairs of gametes arise from different mother organisms. The zygote secretes a thick covering which soon becomes brown and rough. These zygote cysts or resistant spores must now pass from the intestine of an animal in order to complete their development. The escape of the cyst contents does not always take place in the intestine; often it does not occur until after defæcation. These shell-less individuals (amœbulæ) soon become invested with a shell. But in the alkaline intestinal contents, shell formation may proceed even while the organism is in the intestine, and multiplication may take place.
Schaudinn’s further communication was of special interest; it was to the effect that Chlamydophrys was related to
Leydenia gemmipara, Schaudinn, 1896.
In the fluid removed by puncture from two patients suffering from ascites in the first medical clinic in Berlin, cellular bodies with spontaneous movement were found, which Leyden and Schaudinn regard as distinct organisms. They remained alive without the use of the warm stage for four or five hours, the external temperature being 24° to 25° C. In a quiescent condition they were of a spherical or irregular polygonal form. Their surface was rarely smooth, being beset with protuberances and excrescences (fig. [15]). The substance of the body was thickly permeated with light refractile granules with a yellowish shimmer. The hyaline ectoplasm was rarely seen distinctly. All sizes from 3 µ to 36 µ in diameter were observed. The movements were rather sluggish, the ectoplasm in the meantime appearing in the form of one or several lamellæ, in which also strings of the granular endoplasm occurred, and frequently protruded over the border of the hyaline pseudopodia. The tendency for the joining of several individuals by means of their pseudopodia was so marked that associations ensued similar to those known in free-living Rhizopoda.
The cytoplasm enclosed blood corpuscles as well as numerous vacuoles, one of which pulsated slowly about every quarter of an hour. A vesicular nucleus the diameter of which was about equal to one-fifth of the body was present.