INFUSORIA 



action at this part, not of rotation, nor of vibration, but a 

 sort of waving. At this point I had occasion to get up 

 from the table, and though I was not away more than a 

 minute, on my return I observed a strong constriction 

 around the middle of the body. It was transverse, for 

 the depressed and ciliated mouth was at a point exactly at 

 right angles to the constriction. From the depth to which 

 this latter extended in so few minutes, I supposed the 

 process of separation would be very rapid; for I could 

 very soon see a line of light all across at intervals, and 

 the two halves seemed to slide freely on each other. Yet 

 they remained long without much apparent progress, or 

 even change, except that the anterior half at one time 

 threw forth its neck a short distance; at this time it 

 looked extremely like a bird, bridling up its lithe neck 

 and swelling bosom; while, to make the resemblance per- 

 fect, it began to imitate the action of a fowl picking up 

 grain, bobbing its head hither and thither; so curious are 

 the analogies of nature! Along the dividing line there 

 had appeared, very early in the posterior half, a distinct 

 ciliary action ; after a while (how, I do not exactly know), 

 without the general relation of position being ehanged, the 

 mouth of the anterior (which must now be called the old) 

 animal appeared on the side, and at the point correspond- 

 ent in the other a similar ciliary wreath appeared, while 

 the action along the dividing line was no longer seen. So 

 that the division which was at first transverse now ap- 

 peared longitudinal. I believe, however, the animals were 

 really separated before this, though they remained in con- 

 tact; for as they slid over each other it was manifest that 

 each had an independent action. 



At length, about an hour and a half after the first 



