30 Mr.H. J. Carter on Amoeba princeps 



same time indicates the position of the Ctenophora among the 

 other classes of Radiata. 



Polypi. Acaleph^. Ctenophora. Echinodermata. 



Steganoph- 

 thalmata. 

 Lucernarise. 



Gymnoph- 

 thalmata. . 



IV. — On Amoeba princeps and its Reproductive Cells, compared 

 with ^thalium, Pythium, Macor, and Achlya. By H. J. 



CARTER, F.R.S. &C. 



[Plate III.] 



During the month of April, 1863, I found Amoeba princeps, 

 Ehrenb., plentifully distributed in a shallow stagnant pool 

 filled with dead leaves and fresh' green confervoid Alga, forming 

 part of a chain of such pools, which, connected by a dribbling 

 little stream, extended, for about half a mile in length, from a 

 heath-bog, which it drained, to a little rivulet in the neighbour- 

 hood. 



Although this Amoeba is the largest freshwater species known, 

 and stands figured in my journal at its commencement, viz. in 

 1854, as well as, at intervals, in many other places up to the 

 pi'esent time, I have never until lately given the amount of 

 attention to it that I have long since done to the other fresh- 

 water Rhizopoda, both naked and testaceous ; nor in the present 

 instance, probably, should I have gone further, had I not dis- 

 covered in it cells which must be assumed to be reproductive. 

 and had I not been recently studying the family of Fungi called 

 " Myxogastres " with reference to the observations of M. A. de 

 Bary, who found them so nearly allied to Amoeba that he has 

 proposed for them the name of " Mycetozoa"*, 



Well acquainted, therefore, with most of the Myxogastres 

 which have been described, but more especially with that species 

 called yEthalium, I took the first opportunity which presented 

 itself of comparing its structure with that of the largest form of 

 Amoeba; and hence my late study oi A. princeps, of which I have 

 only time now to give the results. The observations were ail 

 made on Amoebce which had not been kept in confinement be- 

 yond, four or five days. 



It may be remembered by those who have read my " Notes 

 on the Organization of Infusoria, &c.^^tj that I have therein 



* Ann. Nat. Hist. vol. v. p. 233 (1860). 

 t Ibid. vol. xviii. p. 115 (August, 1856). 



