126 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 1883.] 



sphserium, in the same manner as those ejected in a mass from 

 the body. 



Several free cells, having rays, were observed, npon touching a 

 ray of the Actinosphset'ium, to glide down it in the manner usual 

 to captured prey, and be re-absorbed into the body. 



One globule of protoplasm, running out towards the point 

 of a ray, stopped, and while motionless sent out a long ray 

 at right-angles to that supporting the globule. Another smaller 

 globule ran out on this secondarj' i-ay and, in its turn, sent out a 

 third ray at right-angles to the secondary ray, but parallel to 

 the primary ray. It has been stated that the rays of the Actino- 

 sphasrtum never branched, but the observer tliought that the above 

 phenomenon could be truly called branching, as all the proto- 

 plasm returned to the main ray, and thence to the body. 



To ascertain whether any globules of protoplasm artificially 

 freed from the body of the AcHnosphaeriuw would develop in the 

 same manner as those above described, an Actmosphaerium was 

 crushed in the livebox so violently as to completely disintegrate 

 it. The vacuoles were broken up, and the internal mass of proto- 

 plasm mixed with the water, only two or three small masses 

 of the external vacuoles remaining intact. On removing the 

 pressure, all the fluid protoplasm was seen to gather itself up into 

 globules, of sizes varying from -0507 mm. to •253 mm. 



These globules contained vacuoles, the size and number of the 

 vacuoles A^arying with the size of the globules. The water became 

 free from protoplasm, though a large number of the granules, 

 which had been contained in the external vacuoles previous to 

 the crushing of the Actinosphaerium, remained swimming actively 

 about in every direction. 



The globules remained quiet for some minutes, and then began 

 to extend pseudopodial rays. The vacuoles increased in number 

 and arranged themselves close to the exterior of the globules, 

 those of the largest size pushing out the thin protoplasmic 

 covering, so as to produce a strong resemblance to the perfect 

 AclinoHphserium. The resemblance of each globule to the original 

 Actinosphaerium became more and more perfect. The few masses 

 of the original vacuoles also protruded rays, thus conclusively 

 showing that the rays of Actinosphseria are not necessarily 

 dependent upon the central mass of protoplasm. The vacuole 

 masses developed into perfect Actinosphteria much more quickly 

 than the globules formed of the central protoplasm, an hour or 

 two being sufficient to perfect the development. The rays of all 

 the immature Actinosphseria were irregular and flattened and in 

 many cases lacked the axial thread. 



The Actinosphseria moved their pseudopodial rays freely in all 

 directions, the ray being bent close to the peripheral layer of 

 vacuoles. 



From an original colony of eight individuals, a small bottleful 



