282 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Oct., 



KreiiUfUlly tlu- auiiual is lounJ in the quiescent state when 

 it takes on a smooth round or oval form. At such times, short 

 tinptr-like processes may be seen )>ushing out from the hall and 

 then bi'ini: drawn in again. In the aetive form these processes 

 tJike on a great variety of shapes resembling clubs, potatoes, or 

 a body with many arms and branches. Figure 1 rej)resenis the 

 ipiiescent forn), while the changes of the active state are shown 

 in the succeeding figures. Sometimes multitudes are found 

 joined together in an irregular network or continuous slieet. So 

 fir as the writer's observation goe>, these are simply individ- 

 uals in close contact. Neither among tliese films, nor among 

 individuals was anything like real fusion ol)served. During the 

 month t)f March of the present year a gathering from the tanks 

 of the Phipi>s Conservatory in the Allegheny public parks 

 yielded many films quite free from the mud which usually ob- 

 scures them. 'I'he observations liere recorded are the result of 

 an examination of this githering. Naturally there was a curi- 

 osity to see if there was anything like fusion or conjugation 

 among such a multitude, but careful and long continued search 

 did not reveal it. In every case the patches were found to be 

 composed of individuals, each with its own separate nucleus 

 and contractile vesicle. Tne line of junction between contig- 

 uous Aniijebas was always disccrnable. Once in a while indi- 

 viduals were seen to detach themselves from the patches and 

 move away in search of food. 



During the examination of these patches a remarkable and 

 unexi>ected thing was noticed. Many Amoebas were found united 

 together not in films, butin a linear series of three tosixand even 

 ten individuals. Here, also, there was only a close contact and 

 nothing like fusion. It was thought tliat the individuals would 

 move in different directions and so pull the lines to pieces, but 

 nothing of the kind bap))ened. In a long time often Amwbas, 

 four near the lower end were observed in motion at the same 

 time, all advancing towards the left and in a direction at right 

 angles to the line. This was indeed a veritable ])halanx of Amoe- 

 bas. The fact that several such lines were seen makes one 

 wonder at its significance. That this linear arrangement was 

 purely accidental does not seem altogether probable. Figure 2 

 shows the appearance of their curious line. 



As some think, Am^jeba films may be connected with the pro- 



