103 



degree. They have at their foremost end a filament so fine as only to 

 be seen by its motion, which is very rapid and vibratory, running 

 along it in waves. 



These objects, although they have every appearance of life, swim 

 about with no apparent consciousness of each other, or any choice of 

 direction. Their filament-end goes foremost, when they come into 

 contact with each other they become entangled, and their motion is 

 hindered: this does not cause any retreating action or attempt at 

 separation, except by accident. 



They appear to be an example of life without self-will or choice. 

 Their motions gradually slacken, and in about an hour they become 

 perfectly still. 



If a globule be forcibly opened before it is ripe the filaments will 

 appear like fig. 33, giving no indication of life. 



I have now detailed the chief observations of Chara vulgaris, made 

 by me with a view of explaining its structure, from the seed up to 

 the globule, with the circumstances which in due order usually pre- 

 cede the production of the fruit, but there is great latitude in this 

 respect, probably from some seeds being fructified by the produce of 

 other globules. 



Recapitulation . 



First. It has been shown that there is a regular correspondence 

 in number between the fruit-arms and the tubes which cover the 

 stem. 



Second. That there is a systematic division of those tubes into 

 primary and secondary, the joints of each primary tube bearing two 

 secondary tubes. 



Third. That these tubes only lie against the stem, having no 

 union with it except at the end nearest to it. Yet that their proper 

 growth depends on their adhering to each other laterally, so as 

 to^jbrm a case round the stem. 



Fourth. That one class of cells arrives at maturity early, and that 

 their size remains stationary during all future enlargements of 

 the plant. 



Fifth. That although the ascending tubes have to keep in union 

 with the descending ones, yet the primaries avoid each other, and al- 

 ways insert their ends between two of the secondary tubes. 



Fig. 16 is covered by the usual number of cells, and the order is so 

 exact, that by counting the fruit-arms, which are nine, and the num- 



