WHAT IS EOZOON ? 61 



body is capable of protrusion in any direction into long 

 processes^ wbicli are very mobile^ and used for locomo- 

 tion and prebension. Furtber^ tbis creature, tbougb 

 destitute of most of tbe parts wbicb we are accustomed 

 to regard as proper to animals, seems to exercise voli- 

 tion, and to sbow tbe same appetites and passions witb 

 animals of bigber type. I bave watcbed one of tbese 

 animalcules endeavouring to swallow a one-celled plant 

 as long as its own body.; evidently bungry and eager to 

 devour tbe tempting morsel_, it stretcbed itself to its 

 full extent, trying to envelope tbe object of its desire. 

 It failed again and again ; but renewed tbe attempt, 

 until at lengtb, convinced of its bopelessness, it flung 

 itself away as . if in disappointment, and made off in 

 searcb of sometbing more manageable. Witb tbe 

 Amoeba are found otber types of equally simple Pro- 

 tozoa, but somewbat differently organized. One of 

 tbese, Adinophrys (fig. 13), bas tbe body globular and 

 uncbanging in form, tbe outer wall of greater tbick- 

 ness ; tbe pulsating vesicle like a blister on tbe surface, 

 and tbe pseudopods long and tbread-like. Its babits 

 are similar to tbose of tbe Amoeba, and I introduce it 

 to sbow tbe variations of form and structure possible 

 even among tbese simple creatures. 



Tbe Amoeba and Actinopbrys are fresb water animals, 

 and are destitute of any sbell or covering. But in tbe sea 

 tbere exist swarms of similar creatures, equally simple 

 in organization, but gifted witb tbe power of secreting 

 around tbeir soft bodies beautiful little sbells or crusts 

 of carbonate of lime, baving one orifice, and often in 



