418 H. W. KING ON AMGEBJ!:. 



permanent attributes ; for I believe it to be a law in nature that 

 a protoplasm having acquired a special habit, that that habit will 

 remain an attribute of that protoplasm, capable of transmission 

 by growth to new protoplasm, new cells. Every variation of 

 action and form in the organism implies growth, the influence of 

 which is never wholly lost, but is capable of multiplication, of 

 reversion, or of remaining dormant until conditions recur to excite 

 redevelopment of the variation, and any Amoeba may exemplify 

 any, or all, the attributes of Amcebas from which it has developed. 

 In conjugation of Amoeba?, which occasionally happens, special 

 attributes possessed by the protoplasm of either individual before 

 conjugation would still remain distinct in the combined individual 

 capable by growth of further transmission. Every influence acting 

 upon the growth of Amoebse is not only recorded in the one 

 Amoeba by special development, by special action, but is also under 

 like conditions evinced in Amoebae developing from it. 



The Amoeba thus presents not a mere jelly mass of protoplasm 

 moving alone by physical influences, or endowed only with such 

 power as may develop in an individual protoplasm. But Araoebse, 

 according to their powers of development, evince attributes and 

 habits impljing in each special plasmic growths developed as the 

 result of diversified conditions and influences acting on long 

 generations of Amoeba life. 



Explanation of Plates. 



Plate XIX. 



Fig. 1. Normal gliding form of Amccba endo-divisa, n.s. ; habitat 



Colon, W.I. a. Endosarc. h. Central region of 



endosarc. c. Endosarc extending through ectosarc {d.) 



„ 2. Amceha endo-divisa in motion developing pseudopodia 



,, 3. Amceha endo-divisa contracted, showing the endosarc as 



apparently one body. 

 „ 4. Amoeba radiosa (common form), as in dippings from 



Colon, Pt. Limon, St. Lucia, and Trinidad. a. 



Endosarc. h. Nucleus, c. Contractile vesicle, d. 



Granules. e. Ectosarc. f, Pseudopodia without 



endosarc. 



