150 ROMANCE OF LOW LIFE AMONGST PLANTS. 



another instance, Martins found this green substance 

 scattered like dust over the surface of a snow-field, 

 the greater part of which was covered with an 

 immense mass of CJilaniydococciis nivalis, below the 

 surface, and on the edges of the field the snow was 

 also coloured green. From many observations, 

 Martius came to the conclusion that the red globules 

 of the green snow are identical with those of the red 

 snow, and that the green snow and the red are one 

 and the same plant, only in different stages of 

 development. It is remarkable that this conclusion, 

 which was arrived at half a century ago, coincides 

 with the accepted opinion of to-day. The great 

 difficulty which presented itself to most of the old 

 observers was the presence of a condition when the 

 sphaerules took the form of animalcules, or were 

 active zoospores. Those who regarded them, with 

 Ehrenberg, to be animalcules, called them Enchelis. 

 " M. Agardh, in 1823, saw in red snow that the 

 globules, generally considered as vegetables, some- 

 times pass into animalcules ; and the behaviour of 

 the Eiichelides in the passive and active state is one 

 reason why so many philosophers have spoken of a 

 metamorphosis of infusoria into plants." ^ Ehren- 

 berg relates of the EncJielides that several are still 

 quite green, while others appear spotted, half red 

 and half green ; and this might perhaps be taken 

 as the best proof that these so differently coloured 

 Infusoria belong to one and the same species. In 

 order to understand, and see the bearing of these 



^ " Red and Green Snow," in Attn, and Mag. Nat, Hist., June, 

 i84r. 



