DR. WALLICITS VIEWS. 21 



the " granules." are said to bear the same relation to the 

 protoplasm of Bathybins as the spicula of sponges do to the 

 soft parts of those animals ; but it must be borne in mind 

 that the spicula of sponges are imbedded in a matrix, which 

 is formed by and contains, besides the spicula, small masses 

 of living or germinal matter. As in other cases, this matrix, 

 with the living matter included, constitutes the "protoplasm" 

 of Mr. Huxley.* 



Dr. Walliclis Observations. 



Dr. Wallich, has, however, arrived at a very different 

 conclusion. In a paper "On the Vital Functions of the 

 Deep-sea Protozoa," published in No. I. of the " Monthly 

 Microscopical Journal," January, 1869, tn ^ s observer, who 

 has long been engaged in this and kindred studies, states 

 that the coccoliths and coccospheres stand in no direct 

 relation to the protoplasm substance referred to by Huxley 

 under the name of Bathybius. The former are derived 

 from their parent coccospheres, which are independent 

 structures altogether. " Bathybius" instead of being a 

 widely-extending living protoplasm which grows at the ex- 

 pense of inorganic elements, is rather to be regarded as a 

 complex mass of slime with many foreign bodies and the 



* The idea of the existence of huge continuous masses of living 

 matter of enormous extent, is most fanciful and improbable. It is 

 opposed to well ascertained facts. So far from living matter growing 

 to form very large collections, it divides in almost all known instances 

 before it reaches the diameter even of -g-^ of an inch. I think that the 

 phenomena essential to living matter are only possible in minute masses 

 separated from one another, so that each may be supplied with nutrient 

 materials. See "Of Life," p. 64. 



