206 THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE 
These, however, might be organisms or might 
not; and, on the whole, I was inclined to take this 
latter view. The next specimen of fermented milk 
was, perhaps, examined with the aid of a better- 
adjusted light. At all events, I discovered therein 
a sparing number of Micrococci of the figure-of-8 
type; and these have since been recognised in every 
specimen of superheated milk in which I have 
sought for them—where the fluid has presented the 
other signs of fermentation. They are to be 
recognised best in portions of the whey in which the 
milk-globules are not so abundant. They have a 
provoking habit of placing themselves vertically 
beneath the cover-glass, when they look just like 
small milk-particles; but as they turn over their 
proper shape is seen, and we find them composed of 
a delicate protoplasm presenting a much lower re- 
fractive index than the milk particles with which 
they are intermixed. Once seen, therefore, they 
need never be confounded with couples of refractive 
milk-particles of about the same size, which are not 
unfrequently to be met with. The average length 
of these organisms is ;55'; but sometimes they 
10,000» 
are rather larger, and at others distinctly smaller 
(Fig. 9, *). 
Where the fermentation is not vigorous, the 
organisms are very scarce and mostly small; where 
itis better marked, they are not only larger, but 
sufficiently numerous to be pretty easy of detection. 
On only a few occasions have I seen a chain of four 
elements; the organisms almost invariably exist in 
the binary form. The same organisms are amongst 


