96 PROTOPLASM 



which frequently show a radial striation of this kind, is very 

 striking, in addition to which the phenomena of movement 

 described also possess a great similarity to those exhibited 

 by uncompressed drops of foam in water. That the structure 

 of the internal protoplasm of the drops is a meshwork can 

 be recognised in spite of the deposits it contains, and at the 

 same time it can be determined that the radial striation 

 depends on the same arrangement of the meshes which has 

 been already frequently described. 



Drops of this kind remained for about three-quarters of 

 an hour in the condition described. Then the alveolar 

 layer suddenly disappeared over a certain extent of the 

 periphery ; the protoplasm lying beneath it burst out 

 irregularly, and in all cases died immediately, since it 

 retained irregular outlines, and hence must have become of 

 a solid nature. The process of dying went on by fits and 

 starts over the whole drop, until, having passed entirely into 

 this condition, it appeared as an irregular lump, of much 

 greater extent than the original drop. In the lumps the 

 reticular structure was now shown with great distinctness. 



In a squashed Miliolid the following very interesting 

 phenomenon was displayed by the small, distinctly amoeboid 

 globules of protoplasm which were set free in great 

 numbers. The chief portion of the squashed mass de- 

 veloped a rich network of pseudopodia again ; as soon 

 as a pseudopodium came in contact with a globule of 

 protoplasm it immediately fused with it, so that in a com- 

 paratively short time the majority of the isolated globules 

 were again united with the principal body. This observa- 

 tion is evidence, on the one hand, in favour of the fluid 

 nature of the protoplasm, but on the other hand, is also not 

 unimportant for arriving at a decision with regard to the 

 pseudopodia, to which I shall return again below. 



The protoplasm of the other Ehizopoda investigated also 

 shows, even in the living condition, quite a distinct reticular 

 structure, which becomes much clearer still after fixation 

 with suitable reagents and staining with gentian violet. 

 Very commonly portions of the network are to be met witli 

 having a fibrous structure, which is a consequence of the 



