204 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



scales, thus naturally cleansing themselves from moss 

 and other parasitical encumbrances. This cause of 

 falling off of the bark Dr. Lindley states to be the 

 rigidity of its tissue, on account of which it is in- 

 capable of stretching, as the wood beneath it increases 

 in diameter. 



The wood of the Oriental plane is used for cabinet- 

 work, and is said to make beautiful furniture on 

 account of the smoothness of its grain and its sus- 

 ceptibility of receiving a high polish. The wood of 

 the Western plane becomes a dull red colour in 

 seasoning ; is used in carpentry, but is not much 

 esteemed. These trees are to be highly recommended 

 before all others for ornamental planting in public 

 walks and city gardens and squares. Limes grow 

 shabby and lose their leaves before autumn comes ; 

 elms at that season look brown and rusty ; but the 

 plane keeps its lively verdure to the last. 



H. G. GLASsrooLE. 



NOTES ON THE AMOZBAS. 



N the same cell and water in which I saw the 

 self-division of Trachdoccrca olor, there were a 

 great number of Amcebas, and, for more than a 

 month, their movements were so slow that I sometimes 



I 



move, and they travelled on at a quick rate. A 

 number of the Coleps hirtus were also present, and 

 I have seen the latter place themselves in front of 

 the moving Amoeba, directly in the path that the 

 Amceba were travelling. The Coleps appeared to 

 tear the gelatinous envelope of the Amceba, and 





. .,-... v."'-:; ':?■•:■■:'■/ 

 -•'•V c •''.' '• .'•■. 

 .■■" :: '' '>"■••'.'•'"■;> :■"'■■•»■ 



':■'■•''.■'■:*.' .■>"•: ':•■"'. ??••;' yff;i- -".'X*:'-' ■.":. ...?■'■ ';*'."'""~ 



Fig. 125. — Amoeba assuming prickly shape. 



extract the granules moving in that direction. I 

 have also seen them pass into the body of the 

 C. hirtus. After feeding for a time it would leave the 

 Amceba, which would proceed on its journey forward 

 without apparently sustaining any damage from the 

 attack of C. hirtus. As this animal is a very fast and 

 quick-moving creature, it did not appear possible that 



-; j ', o 'c. 



... 3. ,'c *"— ° v. ■■.' 



Fig. Hi. — Large Amoeba, containing Coleps. 



Fig. 123. — Amoeba assuming 

 a globular form.. 



• a- e 



Fig. 122. — Amoeba enfolding Coleps hirtus. 



.•?' >:■■: 



Fig. 124. — Globular- 

 shaped Amoeba. 



thought them dead ; nevertheless, at intervals I could 

 perceive some of the granular matter in them to move 

 very slowly. On March 3, however, they were all 

 suddenly moving very fast, and the granular matter 

 within them, with the vesicles, were plainly seen to 



the Amceba could retain it as prey, yet I had seen 

 several instances where it was found in the interior 

 of the Amceba as food, but this I thought at the 

 time must have taken place after the death of the 

 C. hirtus. On March 7, I saw that a large Amceba 



