108 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[May 1, 1SG7. 



Fig. 78. 



torula cells, developed from Penicillium. Others 

 are larger, undergoing division very actively, as in 

 lig. 78, seen with a ^ inch ; they 

 may be subdivided into two, three, 

 or four parts, or much more freely. 

 This indicates the assumption by 

 the parasite of an algal condition. 



In watching the mass on the 

 hair carefully, it is evident that 

 a number of small cells become detached from 

 the outer or spoiular form, and at once move 

 actively about. These small cells indicate an 

 active growth by subdivision, and a fruitful 

 source of propagation ; they subsequently become 

 the cells seen in fig. 77. Certainly this variety of 

 fungus so far described is the most active growth 

 I have come across in my researches, and I have 

 been enabled to germinate it most successfully, so 

 as to set all questions as to its nature completely at 

 rest. Placed under favourable circumstances in water, 

 the spores (figs. 76 and 77) enlarge considerably, 

 and the mycelial filaments increase also, as seen in 



Fig. 79- 



fig. 79, which represents the fungus after its growth 

 two days in water ; but there is at this time to be 



Fig. 80. 



observed a very remarkable occurrence, though not 

 in all cases. Some of the large cells hi fig. 75 have 



become filled with smaller cells ; and in others, in 

 addition to these, processes have been put forth 

 from the circumference of the walls in a radiating 

 manner ; in other cases the enlarged cells have two 

 long cilia attached to them, by which they move 

 about rapidly, whilst a part of the hair, previous to 

 this free from the fungus, has become dotted all 

 over by minute cells similar to those seen in the 

 interior of the larger ones. All this is seen in fig. SO. 

 But more than this, I have observed most dis- 

 tinctly large cells filled with smaller cells, furnished 

 with exceedingly delicate radiating processes and 

 putting forth pseudopodia. One of these cells of 

 large size is represented in fig. 81. 



Fig. 81. 



It will here be seen to have assumed the features 

 of an amoeboid body. Smaller ones are seen in fig. 82. 



L\m/M 



Fig. 82. 



Nothing could have been more distinct to myself, 

 and those who were observing with me, than this 

 peculiar form ; and it seems to me that we have 

 here a pretty complete history of the life of this 

 fungus— namely, the sporular subdividing and 

 assuming an algal form, which in turn becomes 

 amcebiform, and furnishes ciliated cells that supply 

 the earliest condition of the fungus, as seen in fig. SO, 

 scattered over the hair. 



But not satisfied with these results, I set to work 

 to grow the fungus in sugar and water, under 

 constant observation. A rapid enlargement of the 

 sporular cells took place, as in the former case, and 

 in some of the larger cells the most distinct circula- 

 tion of the granules around the inner circumference 

 of the parent cell was witnessed by myself and my 

 friends, and a beautiful object it was. Finally, I 

 obtained a result similar to the former one. 



