86 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



■wards and forwards. Size about ojjj of an inch. 

 Fig. 64, an ordinary form showing Nucleus 

 and Cont. vesicle. Fig. 63, small form, which with- 

 drew all the jJseudopodia except one ; this although 

 constantly moving, lengthening or shortening, re- 

 anained persistent for over an hour during which it 

 was under observation (Fig. 66). Another specimen 

 with longer pseudopodia. 



The next form, Ainivba verrucosa, is the last of the 

 L-.iaked lobose Rhizopods I have found in this district. 

 The illustrations (Figs. 67, 68) give a fair idea 

 of young specimens ; older ones are a little larger and 

 generally contain more Algous food, though not in 

 ■such quantity as to destroy their translucency. It is 

 ■said to be very common, but I have very rarely found 

 it, and unfortunately I have omitted to note the exact 

 locality. It is, I think, a good species. Ordinarily 

 it presents a quadrately rounded form, with broad 

 •expansions of the ectosarc, which in this species is 

 unusually distinct. Old specimens are very sluggish, 

 but younger ones are active, and when moving across 

 the held of the microscope, the broad end is always 

 in front, so that there is a distinct anterior and pos- 

 terior part. The Cont. vesicle is large and posterior ; 

 Nucleus generally obvious, a little in front of the 

 Cont. vesicle. The creatun^ does not put forth distinct 

 pseudopods, but the ectosarc rolls forwards as a short, 

 broad lobe and the endosarc gradually follows so as 

 to maintain the same relative position. The creasing 

 of the ectosarc, appearing as fine, more or less 

 permanent lines, reaching from the back forward as 

 far as the endosarc, is very characteristic, and will 

 greatly assist the student in identifying the species. 

 IFig. 67. Specimen with large Cont. vesicle 

 and single Nucleus. Fig. 68, another with 

 Cont. vesicle partially contracted, food-particles 

 present ; these generally consist of Oscillatorian frag- 

 ments. In the naked lobose Rhizopods there are four 

 Genera and about eight Species. Amoeba, as de- 

 scribed. Pelomyxa, slug-like, with wave-like expan- 

 sions of the ectosarc ; Dinamceba, whose pseudopods 

 are long, conical, sometimes furcate ; with surface of 

 body and pseudopods covered with spicules of motion- 

 less cilia ; and Ouramreba, with fixed filamentous 

 appendages. These all belong to the sub-Order 

 Lobosa, and are of great interest, but as I have not 

 yet found them, winter having effectually put a stop to 

 collecting, I omit all further reference to them here. 

 In my next paper I shall commence the description of 

 the testaceous forms, illustrating the chief varieties of 

 the various species found in Rossendale. 



P.S. — Pelomyxa villosa is another of the naked 

 Rhizopods, which, while absent from many ponds, is 

 yet numerous in others. It is closely allied to Aniccba 

 villosa, if indeed it is not a state or condition of that 

 Rhizopod. It differs from it chiefly in having 

 iiumerous Nuclei and Cent, vesicles scattered 

 through the body mass. It is one of the very largest 

 forms, and its endosarc is crowded with dark granules, 



a considerable quantity of quartz sand ; and, being a 

 voracious feeder, Desmids, Diatoms, and other Algre. 

 When at rest it is of sub-globular form, but frequently 

 buds forth small lobes of its clearer ectosarc, as a pre- 

 liminary to activity (see Fig. 69). The somewhat 

 globular villous patch, which is always posterior, has 

 a prehensile function. Nuclei small and numerous. 

 The same description is said to apply to the contract- 

 ing vesicles, but in the specimen from which the 

 drawing was made there was most certainly one very 

 conspicuous Cont. vesicle. Colour, very variable, 

 but by transmitted light, usually a dark grey or brown, 

 in some cases approaching to black. 



J. E. Lord. 

 Rai^itcnstall, 



OUR LANE. 



A LANE, an English country lane ! To the 

 dweller in a city's murky streets what more 

 suggestive of peace and beauty ? In the very word 

 there is a ring of rusticity ; it tells us that it is not a 

 high- but a bye-way, one off the beaten track — one 

 more secluded, peaceful, fragrant. The thought of it 

 calls up visions of mossy banks and o'erarching trees, 

 sweet-smelling hawthorn hedges with eglantine and 

 bryony festooned, and gay with roses white, with 

 crimson tipped. Nor does the pleasant vision exist 

 only in the imagination of the poetic dreamer. Nay, 

 thank heaven ! in this our lovely native land [there 

 still are left to us a thousand country lanes, as rich in 

 beauty as they were in ages long since passed. 



'Tis not, however, of lanes in general that I would 

 now discourse, but of one particular lane — that 

 special, secluded, restful spot of earth on which it is 

 our hap to dwell, and which we love to designate 

 par excellence " Onx Lane." 



In this our sin and sorrow stricken world 'twere 

 hard to find a spot so sacred to peace that no dis- 

 turbing element will e'er be found within its precincts, 

 and, mayhap, the occasional inroad of merry school- 

 children, full of boisterous mirth, or lumbering wain, 

 somewhat harshly jingles upon the ear of the recluse, 

 but such infrequent breaks but serve to enhance the 

 restful atmosphere which here prevails ; nor do I 

 begrudge the young ones their season of innocent 

 enjoyment ; to many of them it may be only far too 

 brief. 



Our lane is situated in a lovely, richly-wooded, 

 old-world western county, whose benighted inhabit- 

 ants slowly yield to changes of so-called moderir 

 progress, and as slowly help to swell the calendar of 

 crime. Beautiful for situation is it — in every season 

 charming. But 'tis in early summer — say in leafy 

 June— when from the thicket the mellow-throated 

 blackbird mingles his fluty notes with the bright 

 outpourings of the sweet-voiced thrush — when 'tis 

 brimful of birdsong, rustle of leafy shade, and hum 



I 



