8 



ZOOLOGY. 



The Amoeba has the power of digesting and of distributing 

 and absorbing the food (Fig. 1, h, food-ball) when digested. 



The Amoeba reproduces 

 its kind by simply dividing 

 into two portions, as seen 

 in Fig. 3. After becom- 

 ing encysted or forming a 

 round mass as at B, it 

 breaks out of the cell-wall 

 and becomes free and ir- 

 regular in shape as at A. 

 Self-division then 



begins 



Fig. 2. — ^mafta proteus. A, the left- 

 hand figure, the most usual form; the 

 right shows the broad, flat pseudopo- 

 dia; the arrows indicate the direction 

 of circulation of the granules. Highly as at C, the nucleus dlVld- 

 magnified. . ' .. _, 



nig into two, until at Da 

 and Db two separate individuals are formed. 



When the Amoeba is touched it (1) contracts its body — it 



Fig. 3. — Amceba sphcerococcus. A. before division. P. the same in its resting 

 stage; a, cyst or cell-wall; d, body-mass; c, nucleus: b. nucleolus. C. Amceba; 

 nearly divided. D, two young Amoebae, the result of division. Highly mag- 

 nified. 



is thus said to be contractile — and (2) performs automatic 

 movements; also, like the higher animals, (3) it swallows 



