122 WESTON, ON THE ACTINOPHRYS SOL. 



and sides of others come plainly into view with the rising of 

 the g-lobe. 



With an l-8th objective I can distinctly see granules in 

 constant motion in the body of the Actinophrys, similar to 

 those always found in the points of the Closterium Lunula, 

 Apropos to this, a microscopic observer here remarked to me, 

 a short time since, that these granules, in the hyaline globules 

 at the points of the C. Lunula, are dependent for their position 

 in the globule on gravity, being always found, when observed 

 through the compound body, in the tipper jwrtion of the field. 

 Repeated observations of my own confirm this, which has 

 not, I think, been hitherto noticed. 



In conclusion, I have much to regret that my attempted de- 

 scription of the actions of the Actinophrys Sol is sadly deficient 

 in a most essential point, viz., the absence of any measure- 

 ment of the objects. Microscopists are, as yet, but few and 

 far between in India, and there is not a micrometer here ; 

 even the instruments furnished lately by Smith and Beck for the 

 use of the Government hospitals are deficient in this essential, 

 added to which is the distressing circumstance, that we are so 

 far from the manufacturers that what could be procured in 

 London in a few hours, or at most a few days, I have been 

 waiting for with the greatest anxiety since October, 1854, in 

 which month I sent an order for them. 



Sepd. 10th. Since writing the above I have had another 

 case of self-division, which presented some novel circum- 

 stances. 



I had been observing a specimen which was an unusually 

 large one, when visitors interrupted me. At the end of an 

 hour or so, on returning to my table, I found that division had 

 proceeded almost to completion, for the two were each partly 

 out of the field. I was using Smith and Beck's J inch. For 

 a time I observed them to become stationary, which is not 

 usual at this stage, but I was greatly surprised presently ; a 

 reflex action commenced, and instead of separation, they ra- 

 pidly approached each other by the contraction or elasticity of 

 the neck or chain. Not only did they close upon each other, 

 but the smaller specimen overlapped the larger with full one- 

 third of its body, and thus they remained still for about two 

 minutes, giving me hopes I should be able to confirm Kolli- 

 ker's description of amalgamation ; but here I was disap- 

 pointed, for again they parted, the same chain appeared to 

 elongate, and that so rapidly, that in about five minutes they 

 were perfectly divided, and both out of the field. 



Again I followed the larger specimen, because within it 



