252 D. D. CUNNINGHAM. 
certain cases in which the fresh excreta contained Amebe, within 
which varying numbers of bodies, indistinguishable from them, 
were present (Fig. 6). As, however, the amcebz were in some 
Fic. 6.—Large excretal Ameba containing sporoid bodies x 1000. 
cases still active, and only differed from their compeers in not 
being provided with a distinct nucleus, it appeared at first very 
doubtful whether the phenomenon was not due rather to the in- 
gestion of extraneous bodies than to any process of intrinsic 
development ; although, on the other hand, it seemed strange 
that in isolated cases such an ingestion should have occurred 
simultaneously in numerous Amcebz, while in the vast majority 
of cases in which the latter coexisted with the sporoid cells, no 
evidence of the occurrence of any such process presented itself. 
Further observations appeared clearly to show that whatever 
interpretation ought to be put on the above described pheno- 
menon, the sporoid cells really are developed from the Amebe. 
The process of formation normally occurs coincidently with 
the cessation of activity in the parent, so that it is possible that 
in those cases in which sporoid cells were present within active 
Amcebee, they may have been derived from without. As, how- 
ever, the preparations in which the phenomenon was observed 
had been treated with nutritive fluid, it is quite possible that 
it was due to an abnormal resumption of activity in Amebe 
which had passed into the preliminary stages of reproductive 
multiplication. The phenomenon may, in fact, have possibly 
been parallel to those observed in the sclerotia of the Myxo- 
mycetes under the influence of favorable nutritive conditions. 
The plasmodia of the latter organisms, in passing into the sclero- 
tial state, break up into a multitude of distinct spheres, each of 
which is capable of independent activity, and of emerging as a 
distinct amceboid body when separated from its neighbours and 
introduced into a suitable medium, but which may also melt 
together to reform a common plasmodium when the sclerotium, 
as a whole, is exposed to conditions favouring its activity. As 
the whole of the body-substance of the Amcebee is not expended 
in the formation of the sporoid cells, a portion remaining in the 
form of a common gelatinous investment, and as the latter, cer- 
