152 Mr. J. E. S. Moore — Observations upon Amoeba. 



From these observations it becomes probable that we shall 

 have to deal, as Verworn himself says, with such bodies related 

 to conjugation in other Rhizopods. At the same time it is 

 probable that the further study of the apparent discrepancies 

 in the nuclear division of these animals may hereafter lead up 

 to very interesting conclusions, with respect to a possible 

 periodicity in the occurrence of direct and indirect division in 

 such forms of life. 



Mr. Lister has kindly sent me, through Prof. Howes, the 

 MS. of a paper read before the Linnean Society of London*, in 

 which he demonstrates the very important fact that in the 

 Mycetozoa the numerous nuclei in the streaming plasmodia 

 divide directly till just before the formation of the spores, 

 when the division passes into typical karyokinesis. 



Of the life-history of the lihizopods we know in reality 

 very little, and it seems to me highly probable that much of 

 the apparent confusion with respect to their direct and indirect 

 division may be due to a possible periodicity in their recur- 

 rence. 



During the examination of some Amoebas last autumn I 

 became struck with the regularity in appearance and persis- 

 tence of a small granular body, usually near the nuclear 

 element, and in its general relationships very like a micro- 

 corpuscle during certain phases of its evolution (PI. XII. 

 fig.l). 



Although loath to enter into a description of a new structure 

 where we have already descriptions and structures enough to 

 last for half a century, I would state that this body appeared 

 to those who saw it a definite entity, and that it showed a 

 remarkable tendency, when displaced in the living animal by 

 the pressure of the cover-glass or other means, to return 

 eventually to its position beside the nucleus. 



It did not stain with picro-carmine, but remained perfectly 

 visible after fixing with either gold or platinum chloride 

 (fig. 1) ; and it could be stained slightly with orange, as was 

 the case with Verworn's corpuscle in Difflugia. Flemming's 

 fluid rendered it nearly invisible, on account of the induced 

 contraction ; while no better results were obtained with either 

 mercuric chloride or acetic acid. Indeed, it was much best 

 seen when the animal was in full activity (figs. 2, 3). 



Of both the significance and metamorphosis of this body 

 I am absolutely ignorant ; and my knowledge is summed up 

 in the assertion that there is a small body of fairly constant 

 appearance near the nuclei of some Amoeba?, and (as those 



* Meeting held December 1st. Cf. reports in scientific journals. 



