M. A. Schneider on a new Moneron. 389 



moist cell under my microscope ; and they have furnished me 

 with the following- observations. 



In its simplest form in a state of repose Monobia confiuens 

 is a small nearly spherical mass of finely granular sarcode, 

 appearing bluish by transmitted light, without a nucleus and 

 without a vacuole (PI. XVIII. fig. 1) From this homoge- 

 neous body radiate in all directions excessively delicate pseudo- 

 podia, so long that they are four times the length of the 

 body, so slender and transparent that one can hardly trace 

 them except by the aid of the small inflations, like knots, 

 which are arranged at intervals along their course, and which 

 refract the light more strongly. These pseudopodia are recti- 

 linear, slow of movement, and coalescent ; and by the combi- 

 nation of these peculiarities they vividly recall those of the 

 Foraminifera. 



When the little creature thus formed becomes active, it 

 abandons the spherical form and extends itself, more or less, 

 in one direction by a general contraction of its body. The 

 physiognomy which it then takes on varies much less than in 

 other Protozoa ; it is usually that of a Savoy biscuit, inflated 

 at the extremities and slightly narrowed in the middle, the 

 inflated extremities being the seat of the emission of the 

 pseudopodia (fig. 4). 



Sometimes the body becomes triangular, with pseudopodia 

 radiating from each of the heads ; more rarely it is quite 

 irregular, with pseudopodia springing from all the little salient 

 angles which are marked in its outlines (figs. 3 & 5). 



It is evident that, under these aspects, Monobia confiuens 

 feeds and nourishes itself. I have not witnessed the pre- 

 hension of food, and I cannot say what part the pseudopodia 

 take in it. But it is certain that foreign bodies, often in 

 considerable number, are to be seen in the mass of the 

 body, sometimes each contained in a vacuole produced by 

 their licmefaction, and representing the product of their diges- 

 tion, not yet mixed with the general mass. The pseudopodia 

 do not appear to me to be adapted to digest on the spot j at 

 least this seems to follow from the fact that I have never seen 

 them involve foreign bodies. 



I have stated above that Monobia is destitute of vacuoles : 

 by this I mean contractile vacuoles 5 for Ave have just seen that 

 such cavities are formed in connexion with digestion, as in the 

 Amcebce. 



As soon as the Monobia has thriven so as to double its size 

 or thereabout, it propagates, in accordance with the immu- 

 table law that leproduction is the overflow of nutrition. We 

 then see it elongate strongly, contracting and drawing 



