26 BY THE DEEP SEA. 



flagellum. The gullet simply opens into the central proto- 

 plasm ; no continuing alimentary canal has yet been made 

 out. Reproduction is effected by several methods : one is the 

 division of the creature transversely into two, each complete, 

 but for the time smaller ; a second method is the conjugation 

 of two individuals and the subsequent breaking up of the pro- 

 toplasm into numerous spores, each provided with a flagellum. 

 But this breaking up process may occur independently of 

 conjugation. The spores move by the lashing of the flagel- 

 lum, and gradually develop into the adult form. The light is 

 . produced in flashes just under the clear cell wall, and pure 

 sea-water, rich in oxygen, is necessary for its continued 

 brilliancy. At times, on summer evenings, Noctiluca is ex- 

 tremely abundant in the littoral zone, and it is then impos- 

 sible to take up a glass of water without getting thousands 

 of specimens. 



If you occasionally indulge in boating, many forms of low- 

 life, or the larval condition of higher forms may be obtained 

 without difficulty. Take a piece of thin, round cane about 

 the thickness used in training a child in the way he should go 

 and bend it into a hoop. The two ends should be cut half 

 through for an inch of their length, so that their flat surfaces 

 can be brought together and secured by several turns of a piece 

 of thin copper wire. Now to this cane secure a small flat 

 piece of lead, so that when thrown into the water the hoop will 

 assume an erect position. If you should have a couple of inches 

 of " compo " gas-tubing handy, this will do admirably, and may 

 be slipped over the cane before the ends are lashed together. 

 Upon the hoop now stitch a muslin bag to serve as a net ; 

 and to three or four equi-distant points on the frame attach 

 short, strong strings of equal length, and join their ends to a 

 length (say three fathoms) of fishing line. This may be made 

 fast to one of the thwarts of the boat, or held in the hand, 

 whilst the net is thrown overboard. The movement of the 

 boat will cause the net to collect a large number of minute 



