Life 



I 9 I 



" cell " ; that these cells possess the power 

 of uniting with or assimilating other cells, or 

 fragments of cells, as they drift by and come 

 into contact with them ; and that they 

 absorb into their own substance such 

 portions as may be suitable, while the 

 insufficiently elaborated portions the grains 

 of inorganic or over-simple material are 

 presently extruded. They thus begin the 

 act of " feeding." 



Another remarkable property also can be 

 observed ; for a cell which thus grows by 

 feeding need not remain as one individual, 

 but may split into two, or into more than 

 two, which may cohere for a time, but will 

 ultimately separate and continue existence 

 on their own account. Thus begins the 

 act of " reproduction." 



But a still more remarkable property can 

 be observed in some of the cells, though not 

 in all ; they can not only assimilate a frag- 

 ment of matter which comes into contact 

 with them, but they can sense it, apparently, 

 while not yet in contact, and can protrude 



