5l8 THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



inversely proportionate to one another. In portions 

 that were green_, the algoid aggregations were numerous, 

 and the ^winter-eggs' were scarce; whilst, as more 

 and more decolourized portions of the previously green 

 pellicle were selected for examination, the ^ eggs' 

 increased in number and the green Chlorococcus-heaps 

 became scarcer and scarcer. 



But even before I had thoroughly satisfied myself 

 concerning this mode of origin of Hydatina, I had had 

 evidence almost as convincing — which at the time 

 I could scarcely bring myself to credit — that these 

 splendid Rotifers are occasionally produced, in an 

 almost similar manner, from aggregations of small 

 Euglenae ^ entering into the composition of a Euglena- 

 pellicle. Brownish egg-like masses, about oJV' ii^ 

 length, were apt to appear imbedded in the very 

 midst of the pellicle. They were somewhat variable 

 in size, and, like the bodies we have just been de- 

 scribing, they were more decidedly brown in colour than 

 those which are produced within an adult Hydatina. 

 The difference, however, was not nearly so marked 

 between the ordinary gemm^ and the so-called ' winter- 

 eggs ' formed from the substance of the Euglena-pellicle, 

 as between gemmas and the similar ' eggs ' derived from 

 Chlorococcus-heaps. But during the development of 

 such bodies in the Euglena-pellicle, there was the same 

 absence of an investing membrane in the early stages 

 as had been noted in their formation from Chlorococcus 



^ About YSTj^" in diameter. 



