10S 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



animalcule will thus be wholly enclosed in a short 

 time, and the usual form of the Sun-animalcule be 

 speedily restored. But the absorbing of so large 

 an animal as the Melopida would alter greatly its 



Fig:. 65. Actinophrys Sol, usual form, c, first contact of 

 Melopida Lapachella with the spines ; e, contracted vesicle. 



Fig. 66. a a, spines united together and fixed to the glass; 

 d, Melopida drawn to the surface. 



form, as shown in fig. G7, where the A. Sol appears 

 to be almost divided into two by the large body 



absorbed. If the object thus received into the 

 body is of a soft nature, it is soon digested and 

 dissolved ; but when covered with a case or shell, 

 a much longer time is required for its dissolution, 

 and this one in question did not discharge the 

 empty case or lorica for more than twenty-four 

 hours after its absorption. It was then thrown 

 out from the Actinophrys in the act of fission, when 

 the empty case of Melopida floated away perfectly 

 clear and transparent (fig. 68). Two perfect A. Sol 

 were the result, but previous to this two others 

 had been separated from the same by fission during 

 the twenty-four hours it had been under ob- 

 servation. 



Fig. 67. Melopida completely absorbed. 



The manner of reproduction or multiplication of 

 the Actinophrys is by fission or self-division. At 

 first there appears a deep depression above k 'and 



Fig. 68. Lorica of Melopida rejected. 



below, not far from the centre of the body. This 

 depression as it increases throws the tentacles 

 across each other (fig. 69). As division proceeds, 

 the two animalcules steadily but rather quickly 

 increase the distance between them, until the con- 



