QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 51 
eight parts, and eventually into thirty-two, the process 
resembling the segmentation of the animal ovum, and on the 
completion of the segmeutation a cell-membrane is formed 
round each mass. In each of these thirty-two cells a sperma- 
tozoid is developed, and, in the course of from eighteen to 
twenty-two hours, the developed daughter-cells are set free. 
Hach spermatozoid consists of a corkscrew-like filament, 
which possesses a rapid whirling motion, and is beset by long 
cilia. The impregnation of the archegonium, which has in 
the mean time been developing, then takes place. 
The process of the development and subsequent impregna- 
tion of the archegonium are minutely described by Dr. 
Hanstein. The entrance of the spermatozoid iuto the arche- 
gonium by a rapid drilling process was witnessed ; in one case 
two were observed to enter in this manner simultaneously. 
The number of spermatozoids which collect in the mucous 
envelope of a gynospore often amounts to several hundreds, 
the necks of the fertilised archegonia being quite brown with 
them. For further details we must refer the reader to the 
author’s paper, or to an excellent translation of it, in the 
‘Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist.’ for December. 
On the Source of Living Organisms. By James SaMUELSON, 
Editor of the ‘Quart. Journ. of Science,’ iv.i—The author 
of this article gives a brief but very complete account 
of the history of the discussion on spontaneous genera- 
tion, noticing the researches of Redi, Spallanzani, Pouchet, 
Jolly, Musset, Wyman, Schaaffhausen, Mantegazza, and 
Schultze, Schwann, Schroeder, Pasteur, and Quatrefages, refer- 
ring also to the recent experiments of Dr. Gilbert Child (‘Proce. 
Royal Soce.,’ vol. xiii, 65). He then proceeds to detail some 
researches of his own, carried on in connection with Dr. 
Balbiani of Paris, the eminent microscopist. Various infu- 
sions were prepared by Mr. Samuelson, of which he sent part 
to Dr. Balbiani, and retained part for his own examination. 
The infusions were dissolved through distilled water and ex- 
posed tothe atmosphere. In the specimens examined by Dr. 
Balbiani, great numbers of a Cercomonas (C. fusiformis) 
were found, both in the animal and vegetable infusions, as 
also the Ameba Gleicheni and Cyclidium glaucoma. These 
animalculz were also detected in window-dust and exposed 
distilled water, from the same locality as that in which the 
infusions were placed. Mr. Samuelson detected similar 
forms to those noted by his coadjutor, and proposes to make 
the Amoeba a new species, under the name A. Balbianii. 
These and Vorticella, Enchetis, Kerona, and an Entomos- 
tracan, were found in distilled water ; and the author asks 
