AMCEBA. Ill 



Amoeba. This singular animalcule has neither 

 foot, eye, nor proboscis ; it appears like a trans- 

 parent bladder, and has the power of putting 

 out at all parts of the body processes which 

 help it to creep slowly these it contracts and 

 dilates continually, so that it is constantly chang- 

 ing its form ; this renders all the species very 

 interesting objects for the microscope. A. prin- 

 ceps (Drop II. fig. 12) is of a pale yellow colour, 

 and its manner of progression is very amusing to 

 watch. It puts out a portion of its body which 

 appears quite transparent for an instant, and 

 then the granules with which the body is full, 

 run forward into it and fill it ; at the same time 

 other portions undergo the same extension, and 

 thus it moves slowly along. The protruded parts 



