PBOFESSOR W. C. WILLIAMSON ON VOL VOX GLOBAXOR. 331 



ganic life, to presume that the process of gemmiparous 

 generation is not the only one through which the species is 

 perpetuated ; but that, in one form or another, germs of a 

 diflferent kind, capable of existing through the winter, are 

 produced. We naturally turn to the cell-contents in the 

 advanced stages of their development, in search of these 

 objects, and we are immediately struck with the existence of 

 the large granules {Fig, 12 «), of which one or two are 

 developed in each matured cell. The production of these, 

 which invariably exist, would appear to have been one of 

 the objects of all the antecedent changes ; and it becomes 

 very possible that they may be the true germs, or reproduc- 

 tive spores. This is, of course, a fact that it would be very 

 difficult to establish by any process of direct observation, 

 owing to the exceeding minuteness of the objects. 



When one of the cells, containing these granules, has 

 been immersed in water for some time after the rupture of 

 the parent, it assumes the appearance represented in Fig. 12 ; 

 a are the granules in question ; b is the brown or pinkish 

 spot already referred to ; c are the two filaments, which are 

 always implanted over the contracted globular cell-contents ; 

 and d is the outline of t^he primary cell- wall. 



I have already rem:.rked, that these cell-walls are very 

 difficult to trace in the fully developed specimens, whilst in 

 their ordinary state ; but on mounting a number of the objects 

 for my cabinet, the fluid used being merely distilled water, 

 I found that in a few days these cells came beautifully into 

 view (Fig. 11). I have scarcely one specimen, in which a 

 careful management of the light does not make them very 

 conspicuous. When they are in close contact they are 

 angular, the angles being sharp and well defined ; but when 

 the cells are apart, which is often the case, they appear more 

 circular. The inner cell-membrane, and other cell-contents, 

 ehrink up into an irregular central mass, as in Fig. 11, 

 which represents a portion of one of these specimens. 



