THE PAGE OF NATURE. 31 



by short footstalks, concealed in cup-shaped receptacles 

 among the perichsetial or uppermost leaves, and often 

 occur in abundance along with the capsules on the same 

 plant. Examined under the microscope, they are found 

 to consist of a bag, whose membrane is formed of some- 

 what oblique cells, containing granular matter arranged 

 around a bright red nuclear body, which divides into a 

 number of small vesicular bodies of precisely the same 

 character. This granular matter, under a higher power 

 of the microscope, is resolved into a mass of apparently 

 living animalcules called phytozoa, somewhat similar to 

 the spermatozoa which occur in the reproductive matter 

 of animals. These tiny organisms have short slender 

 bodies, with long spirally-twisted tails, and display the 

 most active and lively movements, each whirling upon 

 its own axis, and quickly running about the field as if 

 from an intense feeling of sensuous enjoyment. These 

 movements generally cease in the course of two hours 

 after the discharge of the phytozoa from the antheridia ; 

 but sometimes they are observed to move actively even 

 after the lapse of two days. It is impossible to deter- 

 mine whether these tiny bodies are animals, as they 

 appear to be, or simply modifications of vegetable tissue. 

 They are furnished with cilia like animalcules ; and their 

 motion is such as would undoubtedly be attributed to 

 ciliary action if seen in an animal structure. But as 

 Dr. Lindley says, "It is so improbable that animals 

 should be generated in the cells of plants, unless acci- 

 dentally, that we cannot but entertain grave doubts 

 whether, notwithstanding their locomotive powers, these 

 bodies are really anything more than a form of vegetable 



