THE GROMIJE. 



PAKT III. 



surface to which they may attach themselves. When 

 fixed, sarcode flows into them so that they rapidly 

 increase in size, and then they put forth finer ramifica- 

 tions, which diverging come in contact with those from 



other stems, and by 

 mutual fusion form, 

 bridges of connec- 

 tion between the 

 different branching 

 systems; for the pro- 

 toplasm spreads over 

 the exterior of the 

 test, and from it 

 pseudopodia extend 

 and coalesce, wher- 

 ever they meet, so 

 that the whole forms 

 a living network, 

 extending to a dis- 

 tance of six or eight 

 times the length of 

 the body. Fig. 96 

 represents the Gro- 

 mia oviformis with 

 its pseudopodia ex- 

 tended. 



In the Gromise the 

 granular particles in 

 the semi-fluid proto- 

 plasm are in con- 

 stant motion. In 

 the finer filaments 

 there is but one current, and a particle may be seen to 

 be carried to the extremity, and return again bringing 

 back with it any granules that may be advancing ; and 

 should particles of food adhere to the filament they 



Fig. 96. Gromia oviformifi. 



