Sketch of the Infusona of the family Badllaria. 299 



resides, any motion was communicated to the particles of such color- 

 ing matter by the supposed papillte, or by the active molecules within 

 the terminal cells. A circulation of the fluids within the shell was ob- 

 served, independent of the vague movements of the active molecules ; 

 this was regular, passing in two opposite currents, one along the side of 

 the shell, and the other along the peripheiy of the gelatinous body. 

 When the shell and body of the Closterium was broken by pressure, 

 the green gelatinous matter was forcibly ejected by the contraction of 

 the membranous envelope. 



" The action of iodine upon the specimens was very remarkable ; 

 1st, it did not, as reported by Meyen, stain the green body violet or 

 purple, but orange-brown ; 2d, it produced violent contraction of the 

 investing membrane of the body, whereby the green matter was often 

 forcibly Expelled from the shell at the transverse division ; it instantly 

 annihilated the motion of the molecules in the terminal sacs, and the 

 sacs themselves became so distended with fluid as to burst and allow 

 the molecules to escape. 



" The mode of reproduction was stated to take place, 1st, by spon- 

 taneous division ; 2d, by ova; 3d, by interbudding or the conjugation of 

 two Closteria. 



" The author, after balancing the arguments of the two theories re- 

 specting the classification of this body, gave as his reasons for retain- 

 ing them on the side of the animal kingdom, the following summary : — 



" 1st. That while Closterium has a circulation of molecules greatly 

 resembling that of plants, it has also a definite organ, unknown in the 

 vegetable world, in which the active molecules appear to enjoy an in- 

 dependent motion, and the parietes of which appear capable of con- 

 tracting upon its contents. 



" 2d. That the green gelatinous body is contained in a membranous 

 envelope, which, Avhile it is elastic, contracts also upon the action of 

 certain reagents whose effects cannot be considered purely chemical. 



" 3d. The comparison of the supposed ova with cytoblasts and cells 

 of plants, precludes the possibility of our considering them as the latter, 

 while the appearance of a vitelline nucleus, transparent but molecular 

 fluid, a chorion or shell, determines them as animal ova. It was shown 

 to be impossible that these eggs had been deposited in the empty shell 

 by other infusoria, or that they were the produce of some entozoon. 



"4th. That while it was impossible to determine whether the vague 

 motions of Closterium were voluntary or not, yet the idea the author 

 had formed of a suctorial apparatus, forbade his classing them with plants. 



" Lastly, in no instance had the action of iodine produced its ordi- 

 nary effects upon starch or vegetable matter, by coloring it violet or 

 blue, although Meyen asserts it did in his trials. 



