THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 421 



Euglenas, bodies which may also have other and quite 

 different modes of origin l . Astasise, for instance, have 



FIG. 83. 

 Origin of Euglenae from the Cell-contents of a Conferva. (Gros.) 



(X 250?). 

 a. Unaltered Cells of the Alga. 



b, b. Separation of the Cell-contents and first stage of individualization. 



c, c. Individualized masses which have assumed the form of Euglense. 



c' Similar organisms, somewhat increased in size, and contained 

 within a dilated chamber formed by the obliteration of several 

 dissepiments. 



been seen by Mr. Carter to originate within the closed 

 cells of certain filaments of Spirogyra which were under- 



1 See Dr. Gros' Memoir, loc. cit, p. 289. The difference between 

 these two forms is quite unimportant, and there is reason to believe that 

 Astasise frequently develop into Euglenae. Both are green plastic vesicles, 

 which usually move about by means of a long anterior flagellum ; and 

 the Euglena differs from the Astasia principally by its possession of a 

 spot of red pigment near the origin of the flagellum. In addition to the 

 fact of the presence of chlorophyll in their interior, these animal-like 

 forms are also more related to the products of the vegetal kingdom by 

 reason of their mode of nutrition. They never take visible portions of 

 food into their interior. 



