CHLOROPHYLL-CORPUSCLES AND AMYLOID DEPOSITS. 229 



On the Chlokophyll-corpuscles and Amyloid Deposits 

 of Spongilla atid Hydra. By E. Ray Lankester, 

 M.A., F.R.S., Jodrell Professor of Zoology in University 

 College, London. (With Plate XX.) 



Quite recently (November, 1881) Dr. Karl Brandt' has 

 adduced reasons for considering the green-coloured corpuscles 

 which occur in the cells of Spongilla jlimatilis and of Hydra 

 viridis as parasitic Alga3, and has given to those occurring in 

 the former the name " Zoochlorella parasitica," to those 

 occurring in the latter the name " Zoochlorella conductrix." 



Professor Semper, of Wurzburg, had previously expressed 

 a similar opinion as to the nature of these green-coloured 

 eorpuscles. In his remarkable volume, ' Animal Life " 

 (International Scientific Series, p. 73), Semper brings for- 

 ward facts which he thinks *' may soon require us, if we 

 find true chlorophyll in animal tissues, to recognise in its 

 jwesence a singular and interesting case, either of parasiticism 

 or of the community of two organisms so different, as an 

 animal with true tissues and organs and a one-celled plant. '^ 

 Semper is led to this view by the analogy of Lichens, the 

 duplex nature of which was demonstrated by Schwendener. 

 He is further influenced by and cites Cienkowsky's obser- 

 vations and conclusions as to the ''yellow corpuscles'^ of 

 Radiolarians. But the value of Semper's judgment in the 

 matter is very much diminished by the fact that he expressly 

 declares that the chlorophyll bodies of plants do not divide 

 and multiply (p. 74). Upon this erroneous conception of 

 the chlorophyll bodies of plants Semper bases his argument 

 as to the probability of the green corpuscles found in animals 

 being independent Algae, since in some cases these green 

 corpuscles have been observed to multiply by transverse 

 division. It is, however, well known that the chlorophyll 

 bodies of green plants also multiply by transverse division. 



The probability in favour of the independent algal nature 

 of the green corpuscles of Spongilla and Hydra was largely 

 increased between the publication of Professor Semper's 

 conclusions and the memoir of Dr. Karl Brandt by the 

 observations of the Hertwigs on the yellow corpuscles of 

 Radiolarians and on yellow corpuscles, which occur abun- 

 dantly in the endoderm of Anthozoa (Actinia;). The Hert- 



1 ' Silzuugsbericbt der Gesellsch. Naturforsch. Freuude zu Berliu,' 

 No. 9-, W81.. 



