AvtmhaPcU^ tNFrSORTAL ANTMALCULESi ^*- 



The oxtenial affinity of the Amoeha with sponges is very close ; 

 they may indeed be called microscopic sponges. The resemblances 

 are well conveyed by Mr. Carter, in the following interesting descrip- 

 tion of a fresh water sponge. " A ragged portion torn ofi" with a 

 needle, will be seen gradually to assume a spheroidal form ; and if 

 there be a spiculum, it will embrace it within its substance, it may 

 even be seen to approach it, and it may bear away the spiciaunl> 

 having, as it were, spit itself upon it. On its circumference, will be 

 observed little papillae, which gradually vary their form, extending 

 and retracting themselves, until one of them may be seen to detach 

 itself from the parent-mass and go off to another object. This 

 little animal, one of the group which it has left, may remain 

 stationary on the second object, or descend to the watch-glass, 

 assuming in its progress all forms that can be imagined, spheroidal 

 or polygonal ; whilst every point of its body appears capable of ex- 

 tending itself into a tubular attenuated prolongation .... These 

 transparent little sacs (the gemmules of Grant and Hogg) are some- 

 times flUed with green matter. They appear to be able to adapt 

 themselves to any form that may be convenient for them to assume, 

 and when forcibly separated from each other (by tearing to pieces a 

 minute portion of the sponge under water in a watch-glass), the 

 isolated individuals may be seen to approach each other, and to apply 

 themselves together in twos and thi'ees, &c., and so on, imtil, from a 

 particle, only discernible by the microscope, they assume the form of 

 an aggregate mass, visible to the naked eye, and such a portion, 

 growing and multipljnng, might ultimately reach the size of the 

 largest masses adhering to the sides of the tanks at Bombay. They 

 appear to belong to the genus Amoeba of Ehrenberg." 



These changeable globules, Mr. Carter, in the subsequent part of 

 his paper, designates Proteans ; and states that they commonly 

 resemble the Proteus dijjiuens, Mliller. (Notes of the species, &c., of 

 the Freshwater Sponges of Bombay. " Trans. Med. andPhys. Society, 

 Bombay, 1847. Appendix.) 



Genus Amceba. 



A. princeps {Proteus diff. M.) — Body of a pale yellow colour, 

 furnished with numerous variable processes, somewhat cylindrical in 



p 



