200 WALKS AND TALKS. 



Now, if we understand correctly the nature of this animal, 

 it was related to A-mce'-ba, a minute soft creature often found 

 in stagnant fresh waters. Those who use the microscope to 

 search for animalcules may sometimes discover in the field of 

 view, a little shapeless lump which seems like a particle of 

 dirt, except that it is partially transparent. While wishing 

 it out of the way, it is seen to move. On one side is extended 

 a little arm or tentacle ; it is then withdrawn. But suddenly, 

 one or two others are protruded ; and we find that the crea- 

 ture generally keeps two or three tentacles extended. But one 

 or all may be very capriciously withdrawn ; and when with- 

 drawn, it is impossible to trace any outline of them. The 

 tentacles melt into the general substance of the body. In 

 the interior can be seen what is called a "nucleus" and a 

 " contractile vesicle." 



Attending carefully to the movements of Amceba, we dis- 

 cover that they have an end in view. The tentacles are ex- 

 tended in search of food. This animal is hungry. It is con- 

 scious of hunger. It knows how to secure food. It has a 

 will which sets its organs in motion. It knows how to seize a 

 particle of food. See! its arm is wound about a minute ani- 

 malcule; it holds it, but now, it does not convey it to the 

 mouth. Where is the mouth ? In truth, there is none. The 

 arm is absorbed animalcule and all. It disappears in the 

 common mass of jelly, and the animalcule is seen within it. 

 So this creature feeds. It gets around its food successfully ; 

 but it simply pours itself over it. What an amazing simplicity 

 of structure is here ! Indeed, there is no structure ; we have 

 little more than a shapeless particle of jelly. Whenever the 

 animal takes breakfast, it extemporizes an arm for seizing it. 

 Whenever it eats, a mouth is extemporized for admission of 

 food, and a stomach is extemporized for receiving and digest- 

 ing it. From all the ailments of hands, mouth, teeth, and 

 stomach this animal is happily free. Exempt from headache, 

 sore eyes, ringing ears and heart-flutterings, it still exercises 

 all the functions requisite to make it an animal. 



And this modern creature is the representative of Eozoon. 



