of red-bellied 
some lively specimens of banded sunfish. 
splendid tank dace and 
A special feature was made of young 
The 
rapidity of growth of some of those raised 
fishes, and a great assortment shown. 
this season, especially where they had been 
kept in outside tanks, was remarkable. 
One striking thing about the exhibition 
was the variety of people it appealed to. 
It was of course of particular interest to 
the naturalist and to persons interested in 
aquaria, while the fishes, amid their water- 
plant surroundings, made a strong appeal to 
all lovers of beauty; and there were always 
children in the room admiring the pretty 
colors, interested by the whiskers of the 
striped Indian catfish, getting an insight 
into an unknown life below the surface of 
their ponds and streams, their imagination 
stirred by seeing the climbing perch and 
hearing of its exploits out of water. 
The largest daily attendance at the exhi- 
bition was on Sunday, October 6, when 
1317 persons visited it. 
On the Amceba 
W. A. POYSER, Hammond, Indiana 
CIENTISTS in classifying the animal life 
upon the earth have given the name 
Protozoa to the sub-kingdom containing the 
The Sfirst 
In this class belong Ameeba, 
Infusoria and the like. 
lowest forms. name means 
animal”. 
The Protozoa are 
all one-celled animals and are among the 
organisms called animalcules. This term is 
popularly used to designate microscopic 
animals, particularly such as are found in 
water. The term, however, has no scientific 
standing. 
The Ameeba, one of the lowest protozoans, 
inhabits fresh water or occasionaly moist 
earth. Usually it is most abundant in 
It 
appears when examined under the micro- 
water containing decayed vegetation. 
scope as a clear, translucent drop of jelly, 
varying in size from 1/100 to 1/40 of an inch 
in diameter. The viscid, jelly-like matter 
44 
is protoplasm, the fundamental living sub- 
stance, present substantially the same _ in 
all plants and animals. The word proto- 
plasm means “first creation.” Chemically, 
it is a particle of albumen in a firmly ad- 
hesive condition like a speck of white-of-egg. 
Nothing could be less animal-like than this 
shapeless mass of matter. The creature 
possesses but little. structure or differenti- 
ation of parts. Certain water-filled spaces, 
a nucleus and a pulsating vacuole may be 
detected. The nucleus seems the control- 
ing center and the vacuole to be connected 
with the excretory or respiratory functions. 
Thus at the very bottom of the seale of 
animal life we find the process of respiration. 
Granular particles of partially or wholly un- 
digested food are always present. 
The name Ameeba signifies change, alter- 
To 
“finger” of the body-substance is protruded 
to feed, the 
Ameeba literally flows around and envelops 
ation, and is well applied. move, a 
and the rest flows after it; 
the desired particle. These projections are 
When a 
particle of food has been received into the 
termed pseudopoda (false feet). 
body, the aperture closes, and the discharge 
of excreta is effected in a similar but reverse 
manner. These operations may take place 
at any portion of the body. 
effected by 
When an Amoeba attains the 
it by 
part goes its way as a complete individual. 
Reproduction is division. 
maximum 
size divides constriction, each 
Thus they may be said to be immortal in 
the scientific sense in which the term is used 
to denote a continuance of physical life on 
They resolve themselves into their 
Under 
adverse conditions they may become en- 
earth. 
own offspring, and nothing perishes. 
cysted and form resting bodies. This stage 
may be caused by drought, lack of food, or 
Thus protected they 
may be blown about by the wind, remaining 
approach of winter. 
suspended in the air for long periods. 
When proper conditions for a continuance of 
activity develop, the organism again revives. 
This is characteristic of other organisms and 
