

/ 



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496 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



contiguous Euglense 



or other algoid vesicles, which 

 previous to their decolourization, had appeared in all 

 respects similar to one another ^ Nay more, whilst 

 we are told by Mr. Metcalfe Johnson that Paramecia 

 very frequently become transformed into Vorticellge^^ 

 Mr. T. C. Hildgard states that some Paramecia may also 

 give rise to Oxytrich^ ^. 



Again, it must not be supposed that all Oxytrichse tend 

 to become transformed into specimens of Trichoda, al- 

 though the very careful observations of M. Jules Haime 

 fully entitle us to believe that some Oxytrichse may 

 undergo such transformations ^. He has shown that 

 one of these organisms, after it has become encysted^ 

 may undergo a long series of changes^ during which 

 effete matter is frequently thrown off, and that ulti- 

 mately a specimen of Trichoda lynceus (Fig. 90, kj) appears 



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^ It is interesting to notice that these Oxytrichse began their existence 

 in a comparatively embryonic form, whilst those which arise from the 

 transformation of Chlorococcus vesicles, emerge from their cysts in a 

 condition more closely resembling that of the adult. 



^ ' Monthly Microsc. Journ.,' May, 1871, p. 223. 



^ ' Monthly Microsc. Journ./ Dec, 1871, p. 280. 



* After animadverting very justly upon the strong terms of con- 

 demnation which M. Claparede made use of with respect to these 

 observations of M. Haime — more especially when Claparede's con- 

 demnation was not based upon any observations of his own enabling 

 him to explain the supposed sources of error into which M. Haime had 

 fallen — Quatrefages (' Metamorphoses,' translated by Dr. Lawson, 1864, 

 p. 1 88) says : — ' The conscientious manner in which this young naturahst 



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laboured is well known, and I am personally aware that the memoir m 

 question occupied a very considerable portion of his time, and that he 

 took the greatest precautions to isolate the objects under observation, 



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and to avoid all possibility of mistake.' 



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