54 CURREY, ON THE PHYTOZOA OF ANTHERIDIA. 



furnished with a long whip-shaped antenna or cilium similar 

 to that of EuglcBna. At their first appearance, their motion, 

 their change of form, and their whole exterior, differ so little 

 from the earliest states of AmcBba, that at this period they 

 cannot be distinguished. In these early stages they both 

 resemble Chlamidomonas destruens of Ehrenberg, 



Tlie above forms uniformly make their appearance, and 

 always in the succession above described. It is true that 

 other forms, such as Uvellce, and even LeptomitecB and Peri- 

 coni(S, are sometimes met with, the germs of which may have 

 been imported by the atmosphere during the observation, but 

 these organisms, ivhich always appear singly and after the com- 

 mencement of the observation, do not interfere with the above 

 results, when we consider the immense number of the phy tozoa 

 and their uniform and contemporaneous transformations. If 

 about a dozen preparations are made, and if they are carefully 

 covered with a bell-glass after each observation, and if care 

 be taken not to extend the observations for too long a time at 

 once, at least half of the preparations will be free from all 

 admixture of foreign organisms. 



Dr. Hartig proceeds to remark upon certain transformations 

 similar to the above, which occur in the motile gonidia of 

 Cladophora, and he also notices certain AmcebcB which originate 

 from the phytozoa of the CharacecB. Want of space prevents 

 us from entering into the details of these latter observations, 

 but it may be observed that in the AmcebcB of the Characece a 

 remarkable circulation is to be seen similar to that which 

 occurs in the cells of Chara. DiatomacecE have been observed 

 to force their way into the interior of these AmcBbce, and to be 

 carried round with the current of the cell-contents. In con- 

 clusion, the author puts the following questions : — Does 

 Ainceba belong to the animal kingdom, or is it a stage of 

 vegetable development ? Assuming the latter, does this 

 development ultimately lead to the production of the same 

 plant from which it took its rise, or is the final stage of 

 development dependent upon external circumstances ? Are 

 the phytozoa endowed with impregnative powers, and do they 

 only become converted into Spirilla in the absence of those 

 organisms upon which their impregnative powers are ordi- 

 narily exercised ? 



