(hi Antmalatles, — parlicidarhj on the Polypes. 287 



these aggregate animalcules are in motion, and are clearly the 

 means bv v.'hich they move from one place to another. When 

 the dark points or smaller animalcules increased in number, the 

 middle of tliese mucilaginous masses, which I have termed ag- 

 gregate animalcules, swelled out till tliey became almost round ; 

 at the same tinie losing a great share of their activity. It was 

 in this inactive state they united in large quantities, and floated 

 without motion on the surface of the water; yet thev remained 

 in this apparently inanimate state but a short period ; for this 

 matter gradually lost its green vegetative appearance, and 

 became a brown mucilaginous body, which assumed new cha- 

 racters. 



It was out of this mucilaginous matter that numerous aggre- 

 gated animalcules of various kinds derived a more animated state 

 of existence ; but the gradual change of a large portion of it into 

 different clusters of the polypes termed vorticellcs, rendered this 

 part of the process highly interesting, and stron2;ly supported 

 the idea that all the anhnalcula inj'usoria are aggregations of 

 small animalcules living in lumps of mucilaginous matter. 

 Amongst other brown mucilaginous portions obtained from dif- 

 ferent quantities of water, one in particular did not give out any 

 of the vor lice I Ice, hut an abundance of distinct large animalcules, 

 which moved about with the greatest facility; — may we not there- 

 fore justly infer that, though tlieir act of separation from the 

 brown mass was not observed, they, as well as the whole tribe 

 ^ of what are called animalcules, are generated by a similar prin- 

 ciple to the vorticellcs P — an instinctive power which these dark 

 molecules or smaller animalcules possess of giving to various parts 

 of decaved vegetables and their own secretions all that variety 

 of shape and character which belongs to this part oi' the animal 

 kingdom ? 



In the various observations I made on stagnant water during 

 the winter, I found that the green vegetative appearance which 

 seemed to reside in the mucilaginous part of what I have termed 

 aggregate animalcules, varied with the weather; for when it be- 

 came mild this greenness increased, but as quickly decreased 

 when the weather becanse cold, giving strong indications of the 

 vegetable as well as animal nature of these little creatures. 



The production known among the natives of the East Indies 

 by the name of " Lnlan lout, or sea-grass," gives a nuich stronger 

 display of this two-fold character ; as its green appearance is such 

 that it is mistaken by strangers for grass; yet when caught in the 

 hand it glides through the fingers and witlidraws into the sand, 

 leaving an im])rossion of its mucilaginous and animated nature. 



As by the principles liere developed it does not ajjpear in- 

 compatible with what are termed the vegetable and animal pro- 

 cesses. 



