584 THE AM(EBA. 



shell is wanting, and its place supplied by a cover composed of matted sand-grains. The 

 greater number of these creatures are formed by a succession of buds, each bud remaining in 

 connection with that from which it sprung, and thus forming a composite body, which some- 

 times is rather complicated in its structure. Sometimes when the buds are merely arranged 

 in a line, the result is a straight, rod-like form, divided into a series of joints, marking the 

 spots where the buds have in their sequence issued from each other. If, on the other hand, 

 each bud grows a little on one side of its predecessor, a spiral form is the result, and a 

 nautilus-like shell is formed. The resemblance to this mollusk is further increased when each 

 bud becomes rather larger than that from which it sprung. 



The arrangements of the Foraminifera hitherto in use have mostly been founded upon the 

 mode of growth ; but Dr. Carpenter has clearly shown that this character is so extremely 

 variable, that no reliance can be placed upon it. In a single genus, there is every gradation 

 between the straight and the spiral forms ; and, in many instances, a shell which commences 

 in a spiral will end in a straight line. 



As, therefore, the already existing systems have been shown to be based on false prin- 

 ciples, and the arrangement which is to supplant them has not been fully decided upon, we 

 will not occupy our space by insisting upon the characters by which the systems are estab- 

 lished, but merely proceed to a brief description of the localities in which the various species 

 may be found. 



The greater number of the species are found in Europe, and are now known by the 

 names of Bentalina, Polystomella, Rosalina, and Quinqueloculina. Some other species are to 

 be found in Central America. 



Another sub-class of Rhizopods is named Polycystina, and is notable for the singular 

 structure of the shells, which are pierced in regular patterns, without orifices, and are often 

 prolonged into curious spikes and projections that give them a most wonderful beauty when 

 seen under a good microscope. They are, in general, smaller than the Foraminifera, and are 

 found in the mud of various seas, especially those of the West Indian islands. The marvellous 

 variety which is obtained by the carrying out of two principles, namely, the piercing of holes 

 and the projection of spikes, is almost incredible ; and the delicate tracery of the patterns thus 

 produced is so artistic as to have been happily compared to the hollow ivory balls carved by 

 the patient hands of Chinese artists. 



There is one little creature, which is supposed by many physiologists to belong to the 

 Rhizopoda, but whose position is very uncertain, and even its class not clearly ascertained. 

 This is the NOCTILUCA, a tiny being, about as large as the head of a minikin pin, which is 

 remarkable for its phosphorescent power. If a vessel be filled with sea- water, and brought 

 into a dark room, the Noctiluca fills it with little sparklets of bluish light, which shine for an 

 instant like stars in the firmament, and which can be induced to give out their momentary 

 radiance by tapping the vessel, or even by a heavy footfall on the floor of the room. 



Each of these little beings is furnished with a minute tail-like appendage, by means of 

 which it is enabled to proceed through the water ; and on certain favorable occasions they fill 

 the sea with their luminous hosts, and cause each wave to become a breaking mass of liquid 

 fire. A ship passing through the sea leaves a fiery wake behind her keel, and when the boat- 

 men lift their oars from the sea, they appear to drop flames from the blades as they are raised, 

 all dripping, into the air at every stroke. 



Although so small as to be microscopic in their dimensions, they are yet large enough to 

 be discerned by the unaided eye, and can therefore be isolated without difficulty and placed in 

 the field of the microscope. 



In the accompanying illustration will be seen an odd-looking object, which is considered 

 as belonging to the Rhizopods, though not possessing any shell. 



This creature, called AM<EBA, is remarkable for the fact that it really has no outline 

 and no shape, for its body is continually altering its figure ; so that the rounded object 

 which was seen in the microscope but a .few minutes before, will, in that short space of 

 time, have protruded a number of elongations that look like fingers of a glove or the rays of a 

 star-fish. 



