64 THE WORLD OF THE SEA. 
Pseudopods are not only met with in foraminifera, but this kind 
of foraging threads are the important characteristics of a whole 
class of animalcules. Since these organs resemble hairy roots, these 
animals are classed under the name of RAzzopods (root-footed). The 
thizopods contain besides the foraminifera, whose outside tegument 
is calcareous, animals who have no semblance of a shell, like the 
Amaebine, whose covering is siliceous or flinty. These latter are 
the Radiolaria. 
The Amabine are infusoria possessing the fishing filament of 
rhizopod infusoria. They may be regarded as animals which have 
not yet reached their perfect organisation. They are unformed 
PROTEUS. 
(Amiba divergens.) } 
microscopic masses, which are capable of expansion and contraction. 
We take the Amiba divergens for an example of the class. Con- 
ceive a tiny drop of matter, semi-solid, semi-transparent, semi- 
eelatinous, homogeneous, possessing voluntary motion. It can 
move itself in different ways, dilate or contract, and appear in 
extraordinary or irregular figures. When the animalcule is placed 
on the object-glass of the microscope it glides like a drop of oil, 
separating and reforming itself, a veritable Proteus. In succeeding 
moments it is circular, oblong, hollow, sinuous, lobed, star-like, and 
even branched. 
The Lieberkuhnia of Wagener is also an ameebina. It 
possesses a great number of pseudopods, which roll about in every 
direction, now joining themselves together; now separating, now 
