WESTON, ON THE ACTINOPHRYS SOL. 123 



could be seen a large green oval substance, approaching to the 

 outer edge as if for expulsion. This occurred in about half an 

 hour, but in a manner perfectly distinct from any I had before 

 seen. In tliis case the egg-sliaped substance, fully one-fourth 

 as large as the Actinoplirys^ was pushed through the integu- 

 ments, retaining its perfect figure, and giving to the whole 

 object much of the form of a dumb-bell crystal, only that the 

 one portion was smaller than the other. Suddenly, as if from 

 distension, the envelope of the ejected substance burst, the 

 ovoid figure was instantly dispelled, the greenish matter of 

 which it consisted spread about similarly to the excrementi- 

 tious ejections, and quickly disappeared. 



Does this remarkable oval figure support the supposition of 

 the cellular substance of the A. Sol? 



In other words, was it a single cell distended with fa?cal 

 matter ? 



Was the conjunction of the two partially divided specimens 

 accidental, or had it ought to do with gemmation ?* 



* The following letter acconij^anied the above interesting paper : — 



" Deab Sib, " Bangalore, Sept. 10, 1855. 



" I hope you will find the enclosed worthy a place in the ' Journal.' 

 It strikes me that we are yet in our earliest stages of knowledge of the 

 Actinophrys Sol. Each specimen I look at shows me something more that 

 I have seen before, and the difficulty of developing the cause of its motions 

 appears to me greater the further I go. I have seen a specimen this 

 morning fixed in a fork of the i)lant, as it were in an angle, thus forcibly 

 work itself out ; but by what means I could not distinguish. The valve 

 was posterior in its progress ; has this anything to do with it when under 

 such fixed positions ? In this case the body of the Actinophrys was forced 

 forwards, so as to leave the tentacles as it were trailing behind against the 

 sides of the angle out of which it forced itself. It has, at the moment 

 of my writing, been four hours in an open space, feeding voraciously, but 

 not moving. Indeed, it has not gone beyond the field of the ^-inch, since 

 it took up the position. 



" I have a curiosity for a future occasion, in the shape of a Eotifer 

 hitherto unknown, with a forked foot and a tail. I was fortunate in 

 getting a brother officer to take a better sketch for me than I could do 

 myself. I fancy it allied to Hydutina. 



" If I can in any manner be of service in India, I sliall be most haj^py. 

 " I remain, dear Sir, very truly yours, 

 " To Dr. Lankester, " J. Wkston." 



ttc. &c. 



