THE OCEAN WOELD. 



We shall be able to form some idea of the appearance of these 

 beings, rendered mysterious by their very simplicity, by throwing 

 a glance upon the two accompanying figures (Figs. 12 and 13), 

 borrowed from the Atlas of Dujardin's great work, "Les Zoophytes 

 Infusoires," which we shall have occasion to quote more than 

 once. 



We have said that the Amoebae change their form every few 



moments under the eyes of the 

 observer. Fig. 13 represents 

 the changes of form through 

 which they pass, according to 

 Dujardin, when examined under 

 the microscope. 



Dujardin points out very 

 clearly the identity of structure 

 between organisms like Amoebte 

 and such forms as Difflugia 

 and Arcella. All these crea- 

 tures are without trace of mouth 

 or digestive cavity, and the 

 entire body is a single cell, 

 or aggregation of cells, which 

 receive their nutriment by 

 absorption ; for, although the creatures have neither mouth nor 

 stomach, yet, according to Professor Kolliker, they take in solid nutri- 

 ment, and reject what is indigestible. 

 When in its progress through the water 

 one f these minute organisms ap- 

 proaches one of the equally minute 

 Algae, from which it draws nourish- 

 ment, it seizes the plant with its 

 tentacular filaments, which it gradually 

 encloses on all sides; the filaments, to 

 a11 appearance, becoming more or less 

 shortened in the process. In this way 

 the captive is brought close to the surface of the body ; a cavity is thus 

 formed, in which the prey is lodged, which closes round it on all 

 sides. In this situation it is gradually drawn towards the centre, and 



Fig. 12. Amcebse princeps (Ehrenberg), 

 magnified 100 times. 



