11HIZOPODA. 



13 



organisms ; it does not seem to swallow them, but 

 overwhelms them with its semifluid substance, and 



FlG. 4. AMCEBA. 



as it passes over them, dissolves whatever is digestible, 

 and then casts forth their empty shells. 



The sea-side visitor, who will be at the trouble of 

 placing a little sea-weed, fresh gathered from the 

 rocks, in a glass vessel filled with its native element, 

 and allowing it to remain for a few hours undisturbed, 

 will occasionally find, clinging to the sides of the 

 glass, filmy patches, so small as to be inconspicuous, 

 except with the assistance of a lens, which change 

 their form and glide along with slow but equable 

 movement. When magnified, their central body 

 will be seen to throw out threads resembling filaments 

 of melted glass, which spread like roots in all di- 

 rections, and as these creatures seem to use their 



