KHIZOPODS. 121 



that it has received the name of the " sun animalcule." 

 The rays are seldom entirely with- 

 drawn. 



It feeds on smaller animals and 

 the spores of Algae. When an 

 animalcule comes in contact with 

 the rays it seems to lose some of 

 its power of motion. It appears to 



, , -II i ITT Fig. 95. Actiuophrys sol. 



become partially paralyzed, gliding 

 down the ray, often surrounded by a small drop of pro- 

 toplasm, until it nears the body, when a larger wave 

 flows out and receives it. The little masses of digest- 

 ing food can be seen inside the body, where the green 

 coloring usually turns to brown. 



5. ACTINOSPH^EUIUM: EICHHORNII (Fig. 96). 

 At first the beginner will confound this Rhizopod with 

 Actinophrys sol, which it resembles in appearance when 

 seen with a low-power objective. It is larger than the 

 "sun animalcule," but this is a distinction of no value 

 unless the observer has happened to find Actinophrys 

 first, and to have become familiar with its appearance 

 and structure. In Actinosphcerium, however, the ray- 

 like pseudopodia are quite large and coarse, and they ta- 

 per to their free end from a thickened base at the sur- 

 face of the body. The body itself, as the student will 

 notice if he uses a % or ^ inch objective, is formed of 

 an external layer of large vesicles or bubbles, and a 

 central mass of smaller bubbles. In this bubble -like 



