' PROGRESS OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. 
133 
pected and puzzling difference of form naturally excited tlie liveliest 
curiosity, and led to the most careful examination, with a view to ac- 
count for it if possible. It seemed improbable that the little liamio- 
discoids, which at first we supposed to be the type-form, could have 
developed into many of the irregular forms presented. This view had 
to be abandoned, and search was made for some other simpler form or 
type which would permit of the variations noticed. Among others we 
observed a body resembling a spermatozoon, that is, with a round or 
rather oval head, and a thin filamentary tail, slowly moving across the 
field. We say moving in contradistinction to moved (by currents in 
the fluid). This motion was accompanied and probably caused by 
slow undulatory movements of the tail, nothing like the quick, jerking 
movement of spermatozoa, but resembling those observed in many 
other protophytic organisms. In another instance the head was elon- 
gated and in others again the tail consisted of two parallel filaments 
united below, and directly continuous above with the dilated cephalic 
extremity (so to speak). In others there were one or more slight 
dilatations along the course of the tail. Evidence of apparently vital 
movement was not lacking in connection with some other individual 
spores upon the slide. One of the most striking and unmistakable in- 
stances of this was witnessed in the case of a body composed of a chain 
of three rounded portions, to one extremity of which was attached a 
filamentary prolongation, itself terminated by a minute rounded body. 
The whole outline of this curiously-shaped body could be distinctly 
seen, with the exception of a small portion upon one side, which was 
partially obscured by some granular matter. At this time, attention 
was diverted from the microscope for a few minutes, not more than 
ten, and upon returning to the instrument, instead of finding the object 
last observed, in its place was one of a somewhat different form, recog- 
nized, however, as the same body by its relations to the granular 
matter above referred to. Observation was continued, in order to 
detect further changes, if any should occur. In a few minutes the ex- 
tremity of the tail curved slowly up, and attached itself to the main 
body, forming a loop. This movement was distinctly visible. The 
slide was now temporarily put aside, and attention was given to the 
crust which had been digesting in the potash solution for (by this 
time) about two hours. The crust was found to be converted into a 
viscid gelatinous mass, due to the action of the potash upon the pus of 
which it was in part composed. Portions of this jelly were placed 
upon slides and immediately sealed with Bell’s cement. Examination 
revealed new shapes, among others an appearance such as would be 
produced by stretching a thin india-rubber ring. These elongated 
bodies varied greatly in size. Their breadth was nearly uniform, 
being about the xotnrff °f au inch, but in length they measured from 
the 4^Vo the T i- (T of an inch, as determined by an eye-piece micro- 
meter. Another body appeared to be composed of two concentric 
rings. How these were formed was at first not very clear, but subse- 
quently became easily explainable. The essential portion of the ob- 
servation was finally completed by the discovery of certain fine fila- 
ments, not more than the ^offoo' °f an inch i u breadth, but whose 
