294 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



conducted upon specimens ofParamecium bursarla^ in each 

 of which there were produced by this process five or six 

 large 'ova' measuring about j^Vo" i 11 diameter. These 

 germs underwent the first stages of development and were - 

 converted into rudimentary embryos before they made 







FIG, 67. 

 Development of Embryos in Paramecium. (Cohn.) 



their exit from the body of the parent \ M. Pouchet has 

 never observed germs within the bodies of Paramecta 9 



similar individuals, it would seem to be most allied to a process of 

 ' conjugation.' It seems better to style the products germs than ova. 



1 The observations of Stein and of F. Cohn had already gone to 

 show that these embryos quit the body of the mother under the form of 

 Acinetce, furnished with clavated tentacles true suckers by which for 

 a time they remained in contact with the mother, nourishing themselves 

 from her structure. Their observations cease here; but Balbiani has 

 satisfied himself that the embryos soon lose these appendages, which 

 are replaced by cilia. They soon acquire a mouth, by the development 

 of a longitudinal furrow, and thus gradually take on the form of the 

 parent, whilst they develop within themselves the characteristic green 

 granules. 



