AMCEBA PROTEUS 5 



take up a fixed position from which they do not inove. 

 The nature of the problem before us will, however, be 

 better appreciated if we make a study of some of the 

 lower organisms. 



In Fig. 1 we have a drawing which represents that 

 remarkable organism known as Amoeba proteus as seen 

 under a fairly high power of the microscope. Specimens 

 may be found on the surface of mud on the bottom of 

 fresh-water ponds or pools. 

 To the naked eye they are 

 mere specks, for they are 

 seldom more than ^ inch in 

 diameter. We place a drop 

 of water containing one or 

 more of these specks on 

 a glass slip, and, having 

 covered the drop with a 

 thin cover - glass, proceed 

 to microscopic examination. 

 At first we experience some 

 difficulty in locating our 



interesting subiect, because, 



J . ' FIG. 1 AM(EBA PROTEUS. 



owing to the disturbance of c .,., Contractile vacuole . w , nucleus . 



the even tenor of its way, 



it is quiescent and hardly distinguishable among the fine 

 particles of debris scattered in the thin film of water. In a 

 short time, however, we shall observe signs of movement, 

 and be able to note several interesting details. Amoeba is 

 a speck of protoplasm of no definite form, yet capable of 

 assuming many forms, in which respect it is thoroughly 

 protean and altogether worthy of its specific name. 

 Under a magnification of, say, 250 diameters, the main 



