41G H. W. KING ON AWCEBiE. 



When moTing, the ectosarc may, or may not be elongated into 

 pseudopodia, and when extended to the requirements of the being 

 the endosarc may, or may not circulate in the direction of the 

 pseudopodia, and more sometimes in one direction than another. 

 Vacuoles may apparently oppose tlie direction of the sarcode, and 

 the current divides, passing the vacuoles as if they formed a 

 resistance to the flow. At other times the vacuoles float with the 

 currents impelled in the endosarc, or may be themselves passed 

 through the sarcode, clearly indicating an attribute of retention 

 of the vacuoles by the protoplasm, to one region of the being, or 

 a circulation to another region, as the animal requires. The mere 

 extension of the ectosarc does not cause the flow of the protoplasm 

 of the endosarc, or the granules, or food it contains, as the former 

 is frequently protruded a considerable distance, and then with- 

 drawn into the main substance of the Amoeba, without any motion 

 whatever in the endosarc. ImiDljing the organism had a separate 

 control over tlie movements of the endosarc, and could centralize 

 action or inaction of its plasma at any part or parts of its being, 

 or by a co-ordination of several attributes, the organism can glide, 

 move, select, absorb, and digest simultaneously. The movements 

 of the hyaline ectosarc in these specimens from the West Indies is 

 very frequent, much more so than I have observed in English 

 forms, as though the habit of motion had become quicker by the 

 continual stimulus of a higher temperature, and the organism 

 glides in ever diversified forms, sometimes it is rounded, then 

 elongating rapidly it moves like a slug, then altering its course by 

 the absorption of the elongated ectosarc and protruding it again 

 sideways, the animal is caused to move at right angles to its 

 former motion, or it will sometimes flow a little way in two direc- 

 tions at once, as if about to divide into separate individuals, then 

 suddenly welding into one undivided mass. In such cases acci- 

 dental influences may cause a division of one into several 

 individuals, as is commonly to be observed with numerous forms 

 of plant and other life, which, but for accident, would never 

 utilize their attributes for division into new centres of growth.* 



* In ir.any climbinj? plants tlie nodes bave the attribute to become 

 sej)arate individual centrcp, but withont power of doing so, and unless 

 divided by f.ccidental influence their roots become aborted, chance from 

 absorbents to mere suppovtp, or accommodate tbenieelves to conditiors, and 

 utilize energy in developing the community forming the plant, instead of 

 utilizing that euergy in developing individual centres for a wider sphere of 

 growth, which would be more conducive to the welfare of the species. 



