496 THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



contiguous Euglenas or other algoid vesicles, which, 

 previous to their decolonization, had appeared in all 

 respects similar to one another 1 . Nay more, whilst 

 we are told by Mr. Metcalfe Johnson that Paramecia 

 very frequently become transformed into Vorticellae 2 , 

 Mr. T. C. Hildgard states that some Paramecia may also 

 give rise to Oxytrichse 3 . 



Again, it must not be supposed that all Oxytrichse tend 

 to become transformed into specimens of Trichoda, al- 

 though the very careful observations of M. Jules Haime 

 fully entitle us to believe that some Oxytrichae may 

 undergo such transformations 4 . He has shown that 

 one of these organisms, after it has become encysted, 

 may undergo a long series of changes, during which 

 effete matter is frequently thrown off, and that ulti- 

 mately a specimen of Trichoda lynceus (Fig.Qo,^,/) appears 



1 It is interesting to notice that these Oxytrichse began their existence 

 in a comparatively embryonic form, whilst those which arise from the 

 transformation of Chlorococcus vesicles, emerge from their cysts in a 

 condition more closely resembling that of the adult. 



2 ' Monthly Microsc. Journ.,' May, 1871, p. 223. 



3 Monthly Microsc. Journ./ Dec., 1871, p. 280. 



4 After animadverting very justly upon the strong terms of con- 

 demnation which M. Claparede made use of with respect to these 

 observations of M. Haime more especially when Claparede's con- 

 demnation was not based upon any observations of his own enabling 

 him to explain the supposed sources of error into which M. Haime had 

 fallen Quatrefages (' Metamorphoses,' translated by Dr. Lawson, 1864, 

 p. 1 88) says : ' The conscientious manner in which this young naturalist 

 laboured is well known, and I am personally aware that the memoir in 

 question occupied a very considerable portion of his time, and that he 

 took the greatest precautions to isolate the objects under observation, 

 and to avoid all possibility of mistake.' 



