18 THe Orrawa NATURALIST. | April 
the two nuclei at the same time travelling away from one another: 
next a slit appears in the drawn-out portion between the nuclei, 
this continues until the animal has become two seperate Amoebe, 
each like the parent, but henceforth independent of each other; 
and leading a separate existence. 
Rhizopods are more common than is generally supposed; they 
are to be found in the slime of submerged rocks, on pieces of wood, 
leaves etc., and especially in moist ‘sphagnum; in fact in moist 
places almost everywhere. 
The method of finding I have usually adopted is to plant a 
few sprays of Anacharis or Myriophyllum in a glass jar, in about 
an inch of slimy ooze from a pond or stream. After a week of so 
the shell-producing species will be found clinging to the sides of 
the jar near the top; the naked kind usually in the muddy bottom. 
The.study of the Rhizopods was first brought to the writer’s 
notice while examining some water plants on which are usually 
found one or more species of Rotifers. At the base of a spray 
planted.in ajar, was seen a layer % in. thick, of a milky, cloudy sub- 
stance which, examined. under the microscope contained vast num- 
bers of one of the largest and most beautiful of the Rhizoyods, viz. 
Actinosphaerium Eichorniz. 
The scrapings off slimy logs or rocks if placed in a saucer in 
water and allowed to settle, will be found also to contain many 
specimens. 
In examining sphagnum strain through a fine sieve under a 
running water-tap, only collecting the sediment which passes 
through. If allowed to settle for half an hour, the material for 
examination falls to the bottom. The surplus water is drawn off 
and sediment placed in saucers covered with a piece of glass. 
This supply will afford ample material for microscopical examina- 
tion all winter. : 
Of what use are Rizopods ? They undoubtedly furnish food 
material for slightiy higher organisms, Trumpet Animalcules 
Stentors, Annelids or water worms and wheel animalcules or Rotif- 
ers are repeatedly found containing them ‘in their food. ‘‘ They 
share with alge and diatoms the important function of furnishing 
food for Crustacea, which in turn are eaten by fish.” ‘* They are 
