384 EVENINGS AT THE MICROSCOPE. 



eye cannot recognise the process of extension — stretch 

 and extend their lines and films of delicate jelly, till at 

 length they have stretched right across the field of view. 

 The extension is principally in two opposite directions, 

 corresponding to the long axis of the shell; though the 

 branched and variously connected films often diverge 

 considerably to either side of these lines, giving to the 

 whole a more or less fan-shaped figure. 



These films are as irregular in their forms and sizes as 

 the expansion of the sarcocle of Amoeba, with which they 

 have the closest affinity. Their only peculiarity is their 

 tendency to run out into long ribbons or attenuated 

 threads, which, however, coalesce and unite whenever 

 they come into mutual contact, and thus we see the 

 threads branching and anastomosing with the utmost 

 irregularity, usually with broad triangular films at the 

 points of divergence and union. 



There can be no doubt that the object of these length- 

 ened films, which are termed psevAopodia* is the capture 

 of prey or food of some kind ; perhaps the more sluggish 

 forms of minute animalcules, or the simpler plants. These 

 the films of sarcode probably entangle, surround, and 

 drag into the chambers of the shell, digesting their softer 

 parts in temporary vacuoles, and then casting out the 

 more solid remains, just as the Amoeba does. 



Though this beautiful array was so very deliberately 

 put forth, it is, as you perceive, very rapidly withdrawn 

 on any disturbance to the animal, as when we agitate the 

 water by slightly moving or turning the cover of the live- 

 box. Another fact, of which you may convince yourself, 

 by watching manifest, though small, changes of position 

 in the shell, while under observation, is, that it is by 

 means of the adhesion and contraction of the jiseitdopodia, 

 that the animal drags itself along a fixed surface. This 



* Literally, false feet, from the Greek iptudog (pseudos), a falsehood, 

 and ttovq (pous), genitive 7rodoQ (podos), afoot. 



