SECT. ii. 1XFUSORIA. 65 



Paramcecium, then into Lexodes cucullus, and finally 

 into Colpoda cucullus. From these and other experi- 

 ments it is proved that many infusoria now classed as 

 distinct types are really one and the same animal in 

 different states of development. That appears to be 

 the case also with the Amoebae. In the dust from 

 Egypt Mr. Samuelson found a new Amceba whose 

 motions were very rapid; as to shape and mode of 

 motion he compared it to soap bubbles blown with a 

 pipe. He traced the gradual changes of the globular 

 form of this Amceba until its pseudopodia were in full 

 action, its increase by conjugation, and other circum- 

 stances of its life. In the same dust and in that only, 

 the development of the Protococcus viridis was seen, 

 and that in such abundance that at last the water was 

 tinged green by that plant. In the dust from Egypt a 

 vibrio was changed into a vermiform segmented infu- 

 soria of an entirely new type. Its length varied from 

 ^ ne Ts~o to TOO" f an i ncn > each ring was ciliated, and 

 the whole series of cilia extending along the body acted 

 in concert; a circlet of them surrounded the anterior 

 segment ; a canal seemed to extend throughout the body. 

 It was propagated by bisection ; the two parts remained 

 attached to one another ; an independent ciliary motion 

 was observed in each which did not interfere with the 

 motion of the whole. It was supposed to be a larval 

 form or series of forms. Mr. Samuelson's observations 

 show, that the atmosphere in all the great divisions of 

 the globe is charged with representatives of the three 

 kingdoms of nature, animal, vegetable, and mineral : 

 that the animal germs not only include the obscure 

 types of monads, vibrios, and Bacteria, but also the 

 Glaucoma, Cyclides, Yorticella, and other superior 

 Infusorise, and occasionally though very rarely germs 

 of the Nematode worms. 



It has been already mentioned that many of the 



VOL. II. F 



