90 THE OCEAN WOKLD. 



which are divided and subdivided over their whole length, like the 

 spreading branches of a tree. They can attach themselves to external 

 bodies with force enough to determine the progression of the animal. 

 Being formed of transparent non-colouring matter, they may be 

 said to be mere expansions, which vary in form and length according 

 to the conditions of the ambient medium. The filaments have also 

 very variable positions : sometimes they form an unique and retractile 

 band, issuing from a single opening ; sometimes they project them- 

 selves across from numerous little pores in the shell, which covers 

 the last segment of the animal. These pores, or openings, give the 

 name to the creatures under consideration. 



In conclusion, the filaments, contractile and variable in their form, 

 which constitute the feet and arms of these little creatures, appear to 

 have something electric in them: it is stated that the Infusoria 

 are at once paralysed in their motions when brought in contact with 

 the minute arms of the Foraminifera. " It is probably by this 

 means," says M. Fredol, " that these creatures succeed in catching 

 their prey. Is it not worthy of remark that these beings, however small 

 their size and slight their form, are unpitying flesh-eaters? The 

 smallest, the weakest, and the most microscopic animal in existence 

 thus becomes, by means of a homoeopathic dose of poison, a most 

 formidable destroyer." 



Another singular observation on these little filaments or arms we 

 owe to Dujardin. This naturalist observed that, when a miliola at- 

 tempted to climb up the walls or sides of a vase, it could improvise, as it 

 were, on the instant, and at the expense of its own substance, a pro- 

 visional foot, which stretched itself out rapidly and performed all the 

 functions of a permanent member. The occasion served, this tem- 

 porary foot seemed once more to return to the common mass, and was 

 absorbed into the body. It would thus appear that with these minute 

 creatures the presence of a necessity gives the power to create an 

 organ by the mere will of the creature, while man, with all his 

 genius, cannot manufacture a hair. To the present day, however, we 

 have not been able to discover any organ of nutrition in the Fora- 

 minifera ; they have no stomach, properly so called, but Nature rids 

 gifted them with a peculiar tissue, at once gelatinous and contrac- 

 tile, and essentially simulative, which probably serves the same pur- 

 pose. 



