13! 



THE MECHANISM OF LIFE 



the internal osmotic pressure, showing the gelatinous contents 

 through the opening. 



Fig. 50.— Amoeboid osmotic growth, floating free in the mother liquor. 



The calcareous capsules grown in a saturated solution of 

 potassium carbonate or phosphate often take a regular ovoid 



form. If these arc 

 allowed to thicken, 

 they may be taken out 

 of the water without 

 breaking, and then 

 present the aspect of 

 veritable ooliths. 



Osmotic produc- 

 tions may be divided 

 into two groups. 

 Some like the silicate 

 growths are fixed. 

 Like vegetables, they 

 develop, become or- 

 ganized, grow, decline, 

 die and are disin- 

 tegrated at tile spot 

 where they are sown. 

 () t hers, especially 

 those which are grown 

 in alkaline carbonates and phosphates, have two periods of 

 evolution, the first a fixed period, and the second a wandering 



Fig. 51. — Transparent osmotic cell, in which may 



lie seen llie white calcareous nucleus. The 

 summit of the cell bears osmotic prolongations. 



