INFUSORIA. 



413 



found in sewage water, they are free, and furnished 

 with flagelloe ; ova are perceptible in Astasia hmmatodes, 

 and probably exist in other species. From their vary- 

 ing colour, their apparent changes of form, and the 

 rapidity of their motions, they are most interesting 

 objects under the microscope. The immense number in 

 which these Infusoria are sometimes developed in a few 

 days, and the blood-red colour they impart, have fre- 

 quently been the cause of alarm and anxiety to persons 

 residing in the vicinity of ponds which have become 

 coloured by their swarming. Ehrenberg describes a 

 species of Euglena, E. sanguined, and he conjectures 

 that the miracle in Egypt, recorded by Mose, of 

 turning the water into blood, might have been eit'ected by 

 the agency of these creatures. Very lately, Mr. Shep- 

 pard 1 met with another specimen, probably belonging 

 to this family, adhering to the submerged stones in a 

 clear spring, between Ashford and Maids tone. His 

 specimens were taken home in a piece of glazed paper, 

 and upon opening them he found the paper " stained 

 with hues of red, blue, and purple;" and the whole "re- 

 sembling clots of red jelly, or recently coagulated blood. >r 

 Upon placing a small quantity on a glass side for viewing 

 under the Microscope, " the colour appeared to be opaque- 

 red, looking like a small quantity of vermilion mixed with 

 the water ; but when held up to the light the red disap- 

 peared, and a pale transparent blue took its place." 



Believing this colour to depend upon the presence of 

 albumen mixed with the animal organisms, Mr. Sheppard 

 placed a small quantity of the jelly-like substance in con- 

 tact with some white of egg diluted with water ; and " soon 

 the whole became converted into magenta dye," the 

 solution exhibiting the same colouring properties, namely, 

 that of reflecting from its surface all the red and yellow 

 rays, and transmitting the blue and violet/* Mr. Brown- 

 ing, upon submitting specimens to the micro-spectroscope, 

 found that it gave a very marked band in the red-ray. The 

 whole spectrum is, indeed, very remarkable, and, writes. 



(1) "An example of the production of a coloured fluid possessing remarkabla 

 qualities by the action of monads (or some other microscopic organism) upon 

 organized substances." By J. B. Sheppard. M.R.C.S. Trans. Micros. Soc. July. 

 '867, p. 64. 



