384 EVENINGS AT THE MICBOSOOPE. 



eye cannot recognise the process of extension — stretch and 

 extend their lines and films of delicate jelly, till at length 

 they have stretched right across the field of view. The 

 extension is principally in two opposite directions corre- 

 sponding to the long axis of the shell ; though the branched 

 and variously connected films often diverge considerably to 

 either side of these lines, giving to the whole a more or 

 less fan-shaped figure. 



These films are as irregular in their forms and sizes as 

 the expansion of the sarcode of Amceba, with which they 

 have the closest affinity. Their only peculiarity is their 

 tendency to run out into long ribbons or attenuated 

 threads, which, however, coalesce and unite whenever they 

 come into mutual contact, and thus we see the threads 

 branching and anastomosing with the utmost irregularity, 

 usually with broad triangular films at the points of diverg- 

 ence and union. 



There can be no doubt that the object of these length- 

 ened films, which are termed pseudopodia,* is the capture 

 of prey or food of some kind ; perhaps the more sluggish 

 forms of minute animalcules, or the simpler plants. These 

 the films of sarcode probably entangle, surround, and drag 

 into the chambers of the shell, digesting their softer parts 

 in temporary vacuoles, and then casting out the more 

 solid remains, just as the Amceba does. 



Though this beautiful array was so very deliberately 

 put forth, it is, as you perceive, very rapidly withdrawn 

 on any disturbance to the animal, as when we agitate the 

 water by slightly moving or turning the cover of the live- 

 box. Another fact, of which you may convince yourself, 

 by watching manifest, though small, changes of position in 

 the shell, while under observation, is, that it is by means 

 of the adhesion and contraction of the pseudopodia, that 

 the animal drags itself along a fixed surface. This it can 



* Literally, fake feet, from the Greek ifrevSos (pseudos), a falsehood, 

 and irovs (pous), genitive toS'k (podos), afoot. 



