THE GREEN MATTER IN ANIMALS. 739 



we will therefore only notice their researches iu so fur as they appear to have a bearing upon 

 the origin of the green color of the Oyster. 



ENTZ' DISCOVERIES. Entz has discovered that he could cause colorless infusoria to become 

 green by feeding with green palmellaeeous cells, which, moreover, did not die after the. death of 

 their hosts, but continued to live, growing and developing, within the latter until their total evolu- 

 tion proved them to be forms of very simple microscopic green alg;:*, .such as Palmella, Gl<i<><'i;x/ix. 

 etc. My own observations on some green-colored infusorial animals have been of so interesting ;i 

 character that I will here describe what I observed in a green bell animalcule (Vorlicellrt cl/loro- 

 stigma). Upon investigating their structure, I found that next the cuticle or skin in the outer soft 

 layer of their bodies, known as the "ectosarc," at all stages there was a single stratum of green 

 corpuscles very evenly <>r uniformly imbedded. In another form (Strntor), as already noticed by 

 Stein, the, same superficial layer of green corpuscles was observed, reminding one very forcibly of 

 the superficial layer of chlorophyl grains observed iu the cells of some plants, as, for instance, 

 Anacharis. Now, it is well known that certain animalcules are at times quite colorless and at 

 others quite green; this appears to be the case with Oplirydium. In this last case I "have a 

 suspicion that vegetable parasites may be the cause of the green variety, but as for the others, 

 Stcntor and Vorticella, I am not so sure that their green forms are so caused. In them the 

 superficial positions of the green corpuscles and their behavior toward reagents lead me to 

 think that they must be regarded as integral parts of the creatures iu which they are found. 



NATURE OF THE GREEN MATTER IN ANIMALS. A grass-green planariau worm (Convoluta 

 Nulmltzii), found at Roscoff by Mr. Geddes, was observed by him to evolve oxygen in large 

 amounts, like a plant, and "both chemical and histological observations showed the abundant 

 presence of starch in the green cells; and thus these planarians, and presumably, also, Hydra, 

 K/ioiit/ilhi, etc., were proved to be truly vegetating animals." While some organisms, like the 

 foregoing, appear to have true chlorophyl grains imbedded superficially in their own substance, 

 others, like the radiolariaus, some siphouophores, sea anemones, and jelly-fishes, harbor true 

 vegetable parasites, or, preferably, vegetable, guests. 



That the green observed in a number of animal organisms is of the nature of chlorophyl, 

 or leaf green, has been proved by Laukester by means of the spectroscope. A. W. Bennett, in 

 alluding to Lankester's observations, says: "In all cases the chlorophylloid substance agrees in 

 having a strong absorption baud in the red a little to the right or left and, except in Idoten, in 

 being soluble in alcohol, and in having strong red fluorescence, and in finally losing its color when 

 dissolved.' 1 



The vegetable organisms which have beeu found to inhabit the lower forms of life alluded to- 

 in the foregoing paper have been regarded as belonging to two genera, which Dr. Brandt has 

 named /niii-lilitrcUn and Zouxantltellu, and which are probably in part synonymous with the genus 

 Pliilozuiiit, afterwards proposed by Mr. Gedde^S. The latter gentleman, however, claims to have 

 first demonstrated the truth of the view that the yellow cells of radiolarians and polyps are alga-; 

 secondly, the foundation of the hypothesis of the lichenoid nature of the alliance between al^a- 

 and animal into a theory of mutual dependence; and, thirdly, the transference of that view from 

 the region of probable speculation into that of experimental science. 



Hitherto no one has apparently noticed the occurrence of green vegetable parasites iu 

 bivalve mollusks except Professor Leidy, who has very kindly permitted ine to use the I 

 observed by him n-lating li> Aiitxlmt, om- of our common fresh-water Mussels. In this animal lie 

 some years ago observed what must be considered to be algous parasites. He found them in 

 gre it numbers infesting the tissues of t lie .Mussel and of a larger six.e than the nuclei of the cells ot 

 the host in which they were imbedded. They were also provided with a nucleus, and were, there- 



