216 Dr. H. Charlton Bastian on the Ileterogenetic 



Anioebge, and then, wlien thus developed, a delicate nucleus 

 can generally be recognized even witliout the aid of stains. 



Of course all this is very contrary to generally accepted 

 beliefs ; but if others would only investigate this subject with 

 care, as I liave done, 1 have little doubt but that ray results 

 would speedily be confirmed. The study of what goes on in 

 the scum on a hay-infusion might, indeed, be strongly 

 recommended to some who are occupied with researches on 

 the origin of species, and the phenomena of variation in 

 vegetal and animal organisms, as likely to yield more funda- 

 mental and more striking results than certain statistical and 

 other methods of enquiry wiiich at present Hud favour. 



In conclusion, I would ask. Why do the bacteriologists not 

 tell us what they know about Zoogloea — whether they are or 

 are not aware of its developmental tendencies, and why it 

 should undergo processes of minute segmentation, unless such 

 processes arc a result of an organizing tendency destined to 

 have some definite outcome? Why, again, should it or its 

 segments so often tend to assume a brown colour, while it is 

 still nothing but Zoogloea, either segmented or unsegmented ? 

 Again, why, if the brown Zoogloea does not yield the brown 

 Fungus-germs, should there be this constant association of 

 myriads of brown Fungus-germs (in the absence of hyphfc) 

 in association with brown masses of Zoogloea ? How can 

 they explain, other than I have done, the actual organization 

 of a Zoogloea mass and the stages by which the brown 

 Fungus-germs seem to be formed therein, such as are shown 

 in fig. 3? What process of "infection" in a filtered hay- 

 infusion contained in a closed pot could cause thousands of 

 small Zoogloea masses to go simultaneously through similar 

 processes of this kind — producing myriads of brown Fungus- 

 germs — when not a single hypha is anywhere to be found, 

 and where at first no Fungus-germs are to be met with 

 outside the Zoogloea masses themselves ? I trust the 

 bacteriologists will vouchsafe to give us some information 

 on these points, or, if they cannot reasonably explain them, 

 that they may be induced to work at the subject, and satisfy 

 themselves that something important can be learned con- 

 cerning bacteria, even though it be outside their laboratories 

 and by methods other than their own. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



Plate XIV. 



Fi(j. 1. A. An ordinary mass of Zoogloea in an early stage. 



B. A more pellucid massinAvhicli thegloeal material i? unusually 

 abundant. 



