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Observations on the Conjugation of Actinophrys Sol. 



By John G. Waller. 

 {Read 27th May, 1870.) 



I feel some diffidence in communicating the result of observa- 

 tions made just nine years ago, beeause, in that interval, the number 

 of observers with the microscope has so greatly multiplied that 

 I cannot hope to tell you much that is new. But the subject is of 

 acknowledged obscurity, as, indeed, is the case with the life his- 

 tory of all those humble organisms that seem to stand at the 

 base of animal life. If, therefore, I merely confirm the observa- 

 tions of others, some little service may be done. Moreover, I have 

 no hypothesis to support ; all I undertake to do is to record what I 

 saw and what I noted down with my pencil and pen at every stage. 

 I shall also show you that, at the time my observations were made, 

 there was no certainty among those, either at home or abroad, who 

 had written upon the subject, but merely a chaos of conflicting 

 evidence. 



In April, 1861, I paade a gathering at Woodford Bridge, in the 

 river Roding, and the ditches adjacent. It was a very rich one. It con- 

 tained diatomaceee and desmideacese in abundance, as well as many 

 other specimens of microscopic algas. Two varieties of hydra — Hydra 

 vulgaris and Hydra viridis. Two or three varieties of amoeba, with 

 many allied organisms, amongst which was the Actinophrys Sol (Sun 

 animalcule), taken from a dusty scum on the surface of a ditch. Being 

 more interested at that time in diatoms, I did not at first pay so 

 much attention to this particular gathering, and did not examine 

 it completely until May 7, when, in putting a drop of water upon a 

 slide, I discovered six individuals of the actinophrys grouped to- 

 gether around an empty cyst, in the midst of which was a small 

 diatom. (PI. x. Fig. 1.) I at once made a drawing of it, and observed 

 it for some time ; not, however, noting anything more remarkable 

 than that all seemed adherent together, floating without any volun- 



Journ. Q, M. C. No. 12. h 



