EXPERIMENTAL IMITATION OF PROTOPLASMIC MOVEMENT. 99 



Professor Biitschli's Experimental Imitation of 

 Protoplasmic Movement. 



Professor Butschli^ of Heidelberg, has recently made 

 some extremely interesting observations upon a substance 

 which simulates in a remarkable way the appearance and move- 

 ments of the protoplasm of an Amoeba, or of the plasmodium 

 of Mycetozoa. He has been kind enough to send to me some 

 oil in a suitable condition for use, with directions as to the 

 exact details of the experiment. In my laboratory, by fol- 

 lowing his directions, the movements described by him have 

 been observed in a satisfactory manner. In order to obtain 

 the best results some experience and care is requisite, and 

 probably they cannot always be obtained by a single experi- 

 ment. The subject is so interesting, and so fitted for further 

 investigation by all who have leisure and a taste for the 

 study of the vital phenomena of the Protozoa and of living 

 protoplasm in general, that I think it will be of advantage to 

 readers of this Journal to have Professor Biitschli's directions, 

 which he has permitted me to publish, placed in their hands. 



E. Ray Lankester, 

 March, 1890. 



Heidelberg, February 1st, 1890. 



You have kindly asked me how I prepare the protoplasma- 

 like drops which I have described. As you yourself feel 

 greatly interested in this discovery, and presumably a like 

 interest exists among other English biologists and micro- 

 scopistSj I hasten to satisfy your desire, and to explain some- 

 what more fully the methods which I have described in a 

 previous publication. 



