1890,] NEW-YORK MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 77 



and almost rhythmic flow or streaming whicli one sees in Nitella 

 and Vallisiicria. It seemed to me more like the purposeless im- 

 pulse of the motes in the sunbeam. The scene was very pretty ; 

 for though seemingly crowded I could not detect any jostling in 

 the mazy movement, which would hardly be compatible with the 

 fact that these were naked bodies. There was a glitter, too, 

 which indicated a variation of surface and an individual move- 

 ment like turning on an axis. 



But in respect of motion in these lowly plants there is a sensi- 

 tiveness which is strikingly like instinct. As the several hyphse 

 grew under my eye two proceeded side by side, coming at their 

 extremities nearer and nearer. At last I thought they must col- 

 lide ; so, to be in at the catastrophe I watched them intently. 

 But the little things seemed to know their interests better. They 

 came so closely that 1 could only just see the space between 

 them, when, as if each regarded the contiguity of the other as un- 

 desirable, without even touching, each at the same instant started 

 for itself a growth in a diverging curve, and thus they separated, 

 as if upon a mutual understanding. It certainly did look like 

 an amicable compact to get out of each other's way quietly. 



Should it now be asked, have we not a fungicide ? My answer 

 is not favorable. As regards aquarium fishes I have heard sug- 

 gested the bathing them in a solution of carbolic acid. But 

 this is impracticable. The solution must be weak, it must not 

 be allowed to touch the gills, and the application must be rap- 

 idly done. I remember the late Dr. Henry J. Rice, who in the 

 biological laboratory over Fulton Market had under his care 

 some valuable Japanese goldfishes thus diseased. He expressed 

 himself to me in favor of this treatment, though in his own tri- 

 als it had failed to save the fish, which must succumb if the acid 

 is applied strong enough to kill the fungus. Let us call it what 

 we will — vitality, constitution, or what not — there is in individ- 

 uals of the same species differences of power to resist disease. 

 Could an eagle unduly divert muscle making into wing growth, 

 it would become one of the very weakest of birds. This very 

 increase of pinion thus obtained would mean decrease of power ; 

 so is it with these Japanese fishes. The muscles have gone 

 largely into fins. Their owner is a coddled, weakly thing. Let 

 disease attack, it is without repellant or sustaining power. Now 



