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HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



one figured in Kent (pi. 46, figs. 4, 5), where 

 Sphaerophrya develops fine cilid preparatory to sub- 

 division. These short tentacles were not clubbed. I 

 observed another pair, in which the Sphaerophrya 

 was covered with these short curved tentacles ; but 

 these were all motionless. I cannot find in the books 

 any trace of these short wavy tentacles. 



My next observation was Podophrya fixa, which 

 had seized one of the Stylonychias. The latter kept 

 the cilia on the under side of its body in very rapid 

 motion, as if endeavouring to escape. After I had 

 watched it for more than an hour it got free and swam 

 away. The next stage was as follows : a Stylonychia 

 had a Sphaerophrya attached ; the former gradually 

 contracted itself to a spherical form, with its cilia 



and again the Stylonychia made an attempt to leave 

 its cyst, this time getting about one-third of its body 

 out, and leaving its cyst behind with a thick uneven 

 border (Fig. 2S). Again it came in contact with the 

 Sphaerophrya, and then remained motionless for a 

 long time, which closed my work for the night. 



Another evening I observed a pair where the 

 Stylonychia had assumed the spherical form, with its 

 cilia projecting all round. These were withdrawn as 

 usual. In falling down the tilted cell in which they 

 were enclosed, the little one stuck somewhere, and the 

 weight of the Stylonychia set it free. It immediately 

 burst ; a small quantity of protoplasm was emitted 

 where the Sphaerophrya had been attached, while two 

 globular projections were thrown out on the opposite 



Fig. 24. — Normal cyst of 

 Stylonychia sp. 



Fig. 27. — Remarkable shape 

 temporarily assumed by 

 Sphaerophrya. 



Fig. 28. — Stylonychia emerging 

 from its cyst, a further stage 

 of Fig. 26. 



Fig. 25. — Sphaerophrya, with short 

 wavy tentacles, on Stylonychia. 



Fig. 29. — Stylonychia, which 

 after withdrawal of the 

 cilia has thrown out two 

 large and one small globule 

 of protoplasm. 



Fig. 26. — Stylonychia preparing to encyst 

 when attacked by Sphaerophrya. 



Fig. 30. — A further stage of Fig. 29. The 

 internal protoplasm has left the cyst, 

 now wrinkled and nearly opaque. Ac- 

 cumulation of granules at lower end of 

 the oval body. 



projecting all round (Fig. 26). After an hour all the 

 cilia had vanished. It was forming a cyst, apparently 

 to protect itself from its foe. It then threw out a 

 blunt projection near the Sphaerophrya, which burst, 

 and a considerable amount of granular protoplasm 

 was emitted. Then it resumed its contour. Again 

 it burst close to the Sphrcrophrya, and again resumed 

 its spherical contour. As the water on the slide was 

 drying up I added a little water, which separated the 

 pair a little way — the Sphaerophrya assuming a very 

 remarkable shape, with a wavy irregular outline, 

 quite unlike anything I have seen in these creatures 

 (Fig. 27). The Stylonychia then threw out another 

 broad projection, which unluckily again brought it 

 in contact with its enemy. I separated them again, 



side [a and b, Fig. 29). The cyst then opened in 

 another place, and the whole contents of the body 

 very slowly emerged ; the process taking one and a 

 half hours. The cyst formed over the two globular 

 projections which I have already mentioned. In 

 proportion as the interior part emerged, the cyst 

 contracted in size, became wrinkled and opaque. 

 The internal protoplasm emerged in a simple oval 

 form, contained in a membrane so fine as to be barely 

 visible. The protoplasm was finely granular, and 

 every granule was in rapid swarming motion, some- 

 thing like the Brownian movements. The whole 

 presented a very curious spectacle. Under the 

 influence of gravity, these granules settled at the 

 bottom of the oval, so that at last, this lower part 



