CHARA. 



317 



cells, and the whole field soon appears filled with life. 

 They are generally spirals of two or three coils, and 

 never become straight, though their agitated motion alters 

 their shape in some degree. At their foremost end is a 

 filament so fine as only to be seen by its motion, which is 

 very rapid and vibratory, running along it in waves : and 

 of a globule be forcibly opened before it is ripe, the fila- 

 ments will give little or no indication of life." 



They swim about freely for a time, but gradually getting 

 slower and slower ; in about an hour they become quite 

 motionless. Unger described these moving filaments in 

 Sphagnum (bog-moss) as Infusoria, under the name of 



Fig. 171. — Antheridia of Chara fragilis, fyc. 



a, Portion of filament dividing into Phytozoa, " anther oids." b, A valve, with 

 its group of antheridial filaments, composed of a series of cells, within each of 

 which an antherozoid is formed, c, The escape of the mature antlterozoids is 

 shown, d, Anther id hem, or globule, developed at the base of nucule, e, Nu- 

 cule enlarged, and globule laid open by the separation of its valves, f, Spores 

 and elaters of Equisetum. g, Spores surrounded by elaters of Equisetum. 



Spirillum ; and consequently they have been the cause of 

 much controversy. Schleiden, very properly denying their 

 animal nature, says : — "They are nothing more than fibre 



