Development J and Structure of the Vegetable Cell. 289 



was only indistinctly perceptible. On three occasions I saw two of 

 these globular ciliated bodies come into contact (fig. 54), adhere 

 to each other, coalesce at the point of contact, and form a single 

 motionless body. At the same time the whole of the cilia on 

 the free surface very rapidly shortened, leaving the periphery 

 completely smooth, Whilst the granular colourless membrane 

 became transparent, and constituted a structureless and rather 

 thick envelope around the two coalesced bodies, which had now 

 become completely united into a single, rather irregular, oblong 

 body. 



After a time this structure became flattened on the under 

 surface ; the red granular contents (of whose origin from two 

 distinct masses no trace could any longer be discerned) now again 

 underwent division into two portions, which were coated exter- 

 nally with red vesicles resembling oil-drops. Subsequently, 

 within each of these segments, two globules separated, and in 

 the place of these, again, numerous smaller ones made their ap- 

 pearance, a complete process of segmentation taking place, such 

 as occurs in ova after impregnation. In consequence of this 

 continued development of endogenous cell-generations, the ob- 

 ject of which is doubtless the production of higher organic 

 compounds, the thick-walled envelope, which is constantly un- 

 dergoing certain changes of form, becomes now filled with a great 

 number of small vesicles, which shimmer through the external 

 red layer, consisting apparently of oil-drops, which lie immediately 

 contiguous to the colourless membrane (PI. VII. fig. 55). In 

 the course of two days there is a distinct constriction of one 

 half of the contents into several portions, as in the formation of 

 an annulose animal (fig. 56). 



The further development of the larva beyond this stage has 

 mostly failed in my hands : in only one instance did it proceed 

 to the third day ; and even in this the animal escaped from the 

 sac before its full form was visible (probably owing to the pres- 

 sure of the glass cover, in consequence of the evaporation of the 

 water around the object), in the shape and manner represented 

 in fig. 57. 



Unfortunately this phase of development is still so incomplete 

 that it is not possible to determine accurately what animal it 

 was. I am disposed to regard it as one of the Rotifera, of the 

 genus Rattalus, specimens of which were abundant around. 

 Nevertheless the above marvellous metamorphosis, followed out 

 as it was for some time by myself, claims the attention of zoo- 

 logists. I have to add to the foregoing fact, that a reddish- 

 yellow- coloured Amoeba is to be found living within the joint- 

 cells of (Edogonium whilst still filled with chlorophyll, although 

 more or less diseased, and that this being seems capable of 



