EEPKODUCTION BY ENCAPSULATION. 49 



time, resolved itself into an obtuse-elliptical capsule enclosing a spheri- 

 cal cell with a separate mass of dark angular grains. The capsule was 

 laminated and ragged on the outside, and denned by a clear line in- 

 ternally, while the spherical cell contained all the vital remains of the 

 Kerona, together with the contracting vesicle, but exclusive of the 

 ' dark angular grains,' which, adhering more or less together, were still 

 enclosed within the capsule. At this time the spherical cell was ro- 

 tating, probably from the presence of cilia upon its surface, and the 

 contracting vesicle active; but subsequently the granular mucus of 

 which it was composed became transformed into a number of uniform, 

 round, refractive, oil-looking bodies, and the contracting vesicle disap- 

 peared. After the lapse of nearly a month, the contents of the spheri- 

 cal cysts again became active, and had assumed definite forms, rotating 

 rapidly in their cells, sometimes one way, sometimes the other, attended 

 by intervals of rest ; with many also a lifeless portion was present, 

 which was forced round equally fast with the living one." Mr. Carter, 

 however, was not fortunate enough to witness the actual escape of the 

 enclosed animalcules. 



(104.) The encapsulation of Ploesconia Charon, likewise witnessed 

 by Mr. Carter, presented analogous phenomena. " The Plcesconise had 

 not appeared twenty-four hours when they began to assume a globular 

 form by becoming shorter and shorter, and at the same time secreting 

 an albuminous substance around them, within which the legs and cilia 

 were gradually withdrawn, and a spherical capsule was thus formed, 

 which adhered to the watch-glass. AJ1 trace of the Ploesconiae now 

 became lost, with the exception of the refractive globules in the abdo- 

 minal cavity ; and the contracting vesicle, although active at first, soon 

 disappeared. In this passive state of existence the Plcesconiae con- 

 tinued for two days, when the contracting vesicle again began to resume 

 its functions, and the included animalcule, detaching itself from its 

 capsule, began to rotate gradually. Cilia next presented themselves, 

 the rotatory motion became accelerated, the distension of the con- 

 tracting vesicle increased, until at last the capsule burst, and a portion 

 of the cilia of the Ploesconia was at the same time protruded. A 

 few minutes of rest now succeeded ; and the cilia having been with- 

 drawn, the rotatory motion was again resumed, while the distension of 

 the contracting vesicle also going on, at last became so great as to force 

 a portion of the body of the encysted Ploesconia through the rent, when 

 an interval of rest followed. The portion of the body was then with- 

 drawn, and the same process repeated several times, until at length the 

 Ploesconia obtained its exit. It was now almost spherical in shape, from 

 the enormous distension of the contractile vesicle, behind which appeared 

 numerous globules, and at the circumference the legs and cilia. In 

 this state it continued stationary for some minutes, until the disten- 

 sions of the contracting vesicle, evidently increased for the bursting of 



