HICKS^ ON VEGETABLE AMffiBOID BODIES. 97 



arrived to the condition now under discussion. As I haA'-e 

 before observed, the first cliange is a slight enlargement of 

 the zoospore, and a tendency to a general homogeneousness 

 in the colour of the endoplast. After a time the zoospore 

 increases to nearly double its ordinary size, becoming colour- 

 less, and containing a number of l3ro^vn or reddish-brown 

 granules ; while the vacuoles become much reduced in size and 

 scarcely recognisable in some. When these conditions have 

 been fully attained, the now colourless zoospore detaches 

 itself from the sphere, and then it is for the first time 

 noticed that it has the power of protruding and retracting in 

 various parts portions of the primordial utricle, exactly and to 

 the full extent as a true Amoeba. By this power they glide 

 along the inner surface of the sphere, among the unchanged 

 zoospores, and when they come in contact with one, they 

 bend themselves round it, in the manner of the Amcebse. 

 After the altered zoospore had begun to travel, it was 

 always noticed that for every one such moAang body in the 

 Volvox there was the empty space of a missing zoospore. I 

 have figured (PL lA"^, fig. 1) a portion of Volvox, in which will 

 be seen a changed zoospore still in situ, and others already in 

 motion. Now this state of things seems not to be confined 

 to the ordinary zoospore, but to be also found in those which 

 have gone on to the early stage of gemmule growth, at least, 

 it is certain, as I shall endeavour to show, that it takes place 

 up to the stage of the formation of reddish-brown particles. 

 Figure 2 shows an enlarged zoospore, which had commenced 

 gemmule growth, formed into a colourless body. Figure 3 

 shows two in which the changes have proceeded, even during 

 the segmenting process, to the absorption of the chlorophyll ; 

 but they are not yet amoeboid. I have not noticed them yet 

 in a free state, but judging from the kindred condition above 

 related, it seems highly probable that these appearances 

 belong to the same phenomena, especially taken in con- 

 junction Avitli others, to be presently related, Avhose nature 

 is less doubtful. In addition to the above, the following facts 

 will probably assist us in our investigations as to the nature 

 and origin of these bodies. 



In making observations upon the radicles of mosses kept in 

 Avater, I arrived at the fact, amongst others not necessary to 

 be here described, that the endoplast of many of the elongated 

 cells, of Avhieli they are formed, not unfrequently detaclied 

 itself from the contact of the cell-wall, and collected into one or 

 moi'e ovoid masses, of difterent sizes. These possessed all the 

 optical properties of living, healthy vegetable protoptasra, 

 which was made still more probable by the poArer it possessed 



