176 DESCRIPTION OF [Poli/ffastrica. 



similar to that in the flexm-e of the body was perceived in their 

 cui'ves. 



" Ammonia arrested their motions, and contracted the body gra- 

 dually into a small oval mass, but did not produce the phenomenon 

 of decomposition by solution fdijffluencej, so remarkable in the Infu- 

 soria. A very weak solution of hydrochloric acid in water violently 

 contracted them into a shapeless mass." 



In Plate XII., fig. 519, 520, and 521, represent the spermatozoa 

 found in Pohjtrichum commune, the first figure exhibiting them 

 enclosed in the cellules, and the others swimming freely. Figures 

 522 to 524, are taken from Marcliantia polymorpJia. Figure 525 is 

 from Sphagnum eapilUfolium. All the above are represented mag- 

 nified 1000 diameters. Figures 526 to 528 are from the Cha/ra 

 vulgaris, and figures 529 to 531 from. Jungerman7tia pinguis, as figured 

 in Meyen's work, entitled JVeues System der Ffiamen. 



On this subject of vegetable spermatozoa, Schleiden, in his recent 

 work on the " Principles of Botany," remarks, " The doctrine of 

 vegetable spermatozoa is now I hope gradually dying away. The 

 granules (generally starch), taken fi-om spermatozoa, have indeed 

 lost their life in Fi-itsche's tincture of iodine, since their evidently, 

 purely, physical, molecular movement remained undestroyed. 



" .... Fritsche has completely settled the matter, and every 

 unprejudiced observer may convince himself with ease, of the com- 

 pletely untenable nature of the wonders formerly spun out, especially 

 by Meyen. The confirmatory observations of Nageli on this point 

 are also of great value." 



Again, he says, "as to the mechanism of the motion, we know just 

 as little as we do of that of the moving cilia ; of the cause of motion, 

 of the motive power, just as much as that of the contraction of the 

 primitive muscular fibre, of the motion of animal spermatic filaments, 

 and of the vibratile cilia on animal and vegetable cells ; that is to 

 say, absolutely nothing." 



Further, in reference to the motion of the so-called spermatozoa, 

 Schleiden observes — " There can be no question as to its not being a 

 vital phenomenon, because the motions continue even in the alcohoKc 

 tincture of iodine (an absolute poison for all vegetable and animal 



