42 THE MICROSCOPE. 



two portions ; this method of reproduction is ana- 

 logous to that of the budding of plants. But even in 

 animals so small as, and even much smaller than, a 

 Stentor, a true sexual reproduction takes place. It is 

 to the researches ot Balbiani that we are indebted 

 for our knowledge of this most interesting fact. It 

 seems pretty certain that, both in the case ot animals 

 and plants, a contact of sperm-cell with germ-cell is 

 at times absolutely necessary for the continuation of 

 the species. You will be able to make yourself satis- 

 fied of the existence of this phenomenon amongst the 

 infusoria, after some experience in the use of the 

 microscope; so at present I will not make further 

 remarks on the subject. Great patience is necessary 

 if you would gain an accurate idea of the structure or 

 functions of any minute organ of these little crea- 

 tures. In no case is the old Latin proverb, "Nil 

 sine labore," more true than in microscopic work ; 

 and the same may be said of the converse, " Labor 

 omnia vincit." 



What strange form of animal life am I gazing at 

 now ? A group of some dozen or more of creatures, 

 each growing from a long, spirally-twisting stalk ; some 

 individuals, you see, are in the act of splitting, others 

 have left the stalks; some are just beginning to 

 uncoil, others are partly, others wholly uncoiled. The 

 mouths, you observe, are surrounded with cilia. I 

 will rub a little paint, say carmine or indigo, on this 

 glass slide, and dip my camel-hair brush into it ; now 

 I let a little drop of this find its way between the 

 glass cover and the slide on which the specimens I 

 am examining lie. Now you see the action of these 

 cilia. How the particles of colour are whirled about 

 in all directions ! How wonderfully rapid is the move- 

 ment of these spiral stems, or foot-stalks ! The name 

 of this little creature is Vorticella^ or the Bell Flower 



