370 A PLASMIC ILL USION DETECTED. 



Famitzin, confirmed by Borodirie, had also recorded very 

 marked movements in the leaves of a moss under the influ- 

 ence of light. This class of plants offer great facilities for 

 these observations, inasmuch as the movements can be ob- 

 served in them under the microscope without dissection. 

 M. Prillieux kept a moss in the dark for several days, when 

 the cells presented the appearance of a green network, be- 

 tween the meshes of which was a clear transparent ground. 

 All the grains of chlorophyll were applied to the walls which 

 separate the cells from one another ; there were none on the 

 upper or under walls which form the surfaces of the leaf. 

 Under the influence of light the grains change their position 

 from the lateral to the superficial walls ; under favourable, cir- 

 cumstances this change takes place in about a quarter of an 

 hour. On attaining their new position, the grains do not re- 

 main absolutely immovable, but continually approach and 

 separate from one another. If again darkened, they leave 

 their new position and return to the lateral walls. Artificial 

 light produces the same effect as daylight. M. Brongniart 

 further observed that this movement of the chlorophyll, under 

 the influence of light, does not consist in the change of posi- 

 tion of isolated grains, but of masses of net-work, each con- 

 taining a certain number of grains. In addition, M. E. Roze 

 states that, besides the grains of chlorophyll which coat the 

 walls of the cell, each cell is lined with a transparent mucous 

 plasma formed of very fine threads, the extremities of which 

 unite together the grains of chlorophyll. This protoplasm ex- 

 hibits, under a high magnifying power, a very slow motion, 



