CHALK MAKERS, OR FORAM1N1FERA. 37 



The functions of the pseudopodia, or filamentous 

 prolongations of the sarcode body (fig. 3) would 

 appear to be, in the first instance, to obtain nourish- 

 ment for the animal, and in the next place to attach 

 themselves to any given spot, or to serve as means 

 of locomotion from place to place. Whether they 

 are organs of feeling, or that the animals are in 

 possession of the sense of feeling, or, if so, to what 

 extent, must be left an open question. 



Some naturalists have doubted the power of 



FIG. 3. DISCORBINA WITH 

 PSEUDOrODIA. 



FIG. 4. MILIOLA WITH PSEUDO- 

 POUIA. 



Foraminifera to move themselves from place to place 

 by means of their pseudopodia (fig. 4). On this 

 point the positive observations by so experienced an 

 observer as Mr. P. H. Gosse may be accepted as con- 

 clusive. He obtained at Weymouth entangled 

 amongst tufts of minute seaweeds a number of spe- 

 cimens of Polystomella. " These," he says, " were 

 always found, a few hours after the weed had been 



