THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 393 



putrefaction has commenced/ Mr. Archer has also 

 described and figured ^ a mycelial growth found within 

 a Closterium lunula.^ which was very similar to the organ- 

 isms just referred to 2. 



In speaking of the prevalence of one or other of the 

 modes of development already described, Mr. Carter 

 says they are common in Chara and Nitella, and in 

 Cladophora and Spirogyra ; that they occur occasionally 

 in Hydrodictyon, and also in Closterium and Cosmarium 

 among the Desmidise, though never in the Diatomacese. 

 He has also frequently met with such changes in 

 Euglense^ and in the dead bodies of Furcularian Roti- 

 fera , and he adds : — ' The same or similar develop- 

 ments probably take place ttu'oughout the whole of the 

 fresh-water Algse, and in many of the Infusoria.' 



Changes very similar to, though not precisely the 

 same as those already described, have been frequently 

 watched by the author in Nitella, Vaucheria, and other 

 Algs. And those who work at this subject must not 



^ 'Journal of Microsc. Science,' 1S60, pi. xi. fig. 6. 



^ I have myself very frequently seen these growths within large speci- 

 mens of Closteria, though the filaments have always been quite motion- 

 less. They seemed to be formed out of the substance of the Desmid, and 

 always first manifested themselves near the clear central portion at a 

 time when no alteration of colour had taken place. I have occasionally 

 found that their presence could be determined at will by simply keeping 

 the Desmids for a time beneath a covering glass, or in a small unven- 

 •tilated chamber. Under these conditions also, fungoid growths of various 

 kinds will make their appearance within the filaments of Spirogyra, 

 Vaucheria, or other Algee; whilst other heterogenetic changes v/hich 

 may have been previously taking place become arrested. 



