DEGENERATION IN THE LARV.E OF GONIONEMA. 1/5 



In this condition the tissue of the creature was yellowish and 

 translucent, with many inclusions of various sizes and shapes. 

 The nuclei of the polyp were permanently visible, scattered 

 unevenly through the substance. Vacuoles of varying size oc- 

 curred in most cases, and a large number of foreign objects, 

 such as bits of diatoms and disintegrating vegetable matter, par- 

 ticles of sand, etc., lay in the protoplasmic matrix. 



This plasmodium showed most remarkable ability to move 

 and change its form. From a regular mass of protoplasmic 

 tissue long pseudopodia-like processes were seen to push out 

 into the water or along the bottom. The creature had the power 

 of flowing about on the bottom like an amceba, and its changes 



o 



FIG. i. 



of form were sufficiently rapid to be readily noticeable. No 

 definite type of form could be discovered, the changes being 

 apparently endless in diversity. Several figures are given to 

 show some of the forms which appeared in the course of my 

 observations ; these are merely typical, and do not represent a 

 tithe of the peculiar appearances which came to my notice. All 

 the shapes shown in the figures were such as single individuals 

 were frequently seen to go through within a couple of hours' 

 time. 



Starting, perhaps, as a spheroidal mass adhering to the bottom 

 by a broad, sole-like surface (Fig. i), in which condition the crea- 

 ture may have been resting motionless for some time, the form 

 was suddenly seen to show signs of life, and to elongate verti- 

 cally, so as to send upward into the water a columnar process 

 (Fig. 2). This grew rapidly more slender at the base while the 

 free end enlarged into an irregular bolt (Fig. 3). Usually the 



