30 Natural Salvation. 



envelope, through which each cell thrusts out two flagella. 

 While living as a colony, these sixteen or thirty- two cells 

 act together, as if actuated by a common impulse, moving 

 their flagella in unison to propel the colony. It changes 

 direction, tacks suddenly, and otherwise affords evidence 

 that all the cells are acting together as one. Either there 

 is a sentient contact which serves to enable the sixteen 

 separate cells to act as one, or else a temporary species of 

 nervous system, consisting of filamentous processes thrust 

 forth from cell to cell. 



In the oft-cited instance of volvox globator, the colony is 

 of more complicated structure and forms a large green 

 ball, to the surface of which the individual cells adhere in 

 great numbers, as many as twelve thousands to a ball 

 having been counted. In this case they appear to touch 

 each other and are each provided with two flagella which 

 project through the membrane. Here each cell appears to 

 be a free agent within its own envelope, but projects pro- 

 toplasmic threads or filaments, like telephonic wires, into 

 its neighbors, by means of which a network of consentient 

 communication is established. At an internal signal all 

 the thousands of flagella swing in harmony like oars, and 

 the ball moves from point to point. It is clear that some- 

 thing analogous to a nervous system is here present, even 

 though of an ephemeral nature, consisting of filaments 

 which can be thrust out and withdrawn at will. 



In the dicecian volvox the male colony remains apart 



