Ixx THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



quently by distortion in all directions, produce a mass whose 

 origin might be very difficult to determine, were it not 

 generally possible to find some small part retaining the 

 original filamentous condition.' 



The other reproductive (?) changes described by Dr. 

 Braxton Hicks as occurring in the confervoid filaments of 

 Mosses are of a most remarkable character, and are perhaps 

 more intimately connected with a failing vitality of the 

 mother-cells than those hitherto described. They seem to 

 be instances of true heterogenesis. 



6. The whole of the contents of one of the cells may 

 gather together ' into one or more oval masses, which be- 

 come covered by a cell-wall thrown around each portion.' 

 Then two different kinds of changes may ensue. Either {a) 

 they may undergo a process of segmentation whilst still 

 within the parent cell, the products being ultimately liberated 

 by the solution of the cell-walls, containing and contained ; 

 or ip) the cells may gradually lose their green colour, and 

 assume a colourless appearance save for the presence of a 

 few reddish granules. As these changes advance the units 

 assume the appearance of veritable Amoebce, possessing one or 

 two contractile vesicles, and exhibiting the usual changes of 

 form and movements characteristic of such organisms ^ After 

 they have moved about for a time as Amcebce, they reassume 

 an ovoid form, and become covered with cilia, which vibrate 

 actively. Further alterations have not been traced. 



7. The next change is one commencing in the so-called 

 'chlorophyll utricles,' which exist not only in the stems 

 and leaves of Mosses, but also in their closely-related radicles 

 and confervoid filaments. They are minute homogeneous 

 granules, or, perhaps more correctly, saccules. Nageli^ 

 had pointed out that they were provided with an outer 



1 For details concerning this metamorphosis, see ' Journ. of Microsc. 

 Science,' April 1862. '^ Ray Soc. 1849, PP- 176-178- 



