SMALL MASSES OF ZOOGLCEA 187 



which the constituent Bacteria (now themselves coloured) are 

 plainly to be seen. The same thing occurs not unfrequently in 

 Zoogloea masses which have as yet undergone little or no segmen- 

 tation, as in Fig. ii, D ; while in B a small segmenting Zooglcea 

 aggregate is seen becoming brown, the process being rather more 

 advanced below than above, while in the latter situation the mass 

 seems to fuse almost imperceptibly with the contiguous portion of 

 the pellicle. In C a similar mass is to be seen Which has almost 

 completely segmented into slightly brown Fungus-germs. In E 

 we have two other much smaller masses of Zoogloea which have 

 become brown, and which plainly show their constituent Bacteria ; 

 while in F a similar process is taking place in very minute units of 

 Zoogloea, such as give rise to discrete Fungus-germs. 



These facts concerning the changes taking place in large or small 

 masses of Zoogloea, even leaving aside the question of their 

 subsequent transformations, are facts of considerable importance 

 well worthy of a little attention on the part of bacteriologists. 



My more complete and recent observations as to the assumption 

 of a brown colour by the Zoogloea masses and their segments 

 serve to make the relationship between them and the brown 

 Fungus-germs more obvious than it was previously. Moreover, the 

 actual proof of the development of the one from the other can 

 now be given in a very complete way — also as a result of recent 

 observations. 



(2) The Transformation oj Zoogloea Masses into Fungus-germs or 

 Monads. The very distinct specimens, to which I shall first refer 

 were taken from the scum on a hay-infusion that had been exposed 

 in a small closed pot to a temperature of 70° F. (21° C.) for seven 

 days. Many of the Zoogloea masses had, by that time, become 

 wholly transformed into brown Fungus-germs, though other masses 

 in all intermediate stages were to be seen. Some were still in an 

 early colourless state, as in Fig. 12. A later stage in which the 

 whole mass is being converted into embryo Fungus-germs is shown 

 in Fig. 13, parts of which are assuming a faint brown tinge ; and a 

 still later stage, in which the nucleated embryo germs are more 

 distinct, and in which portions of the mass have assumed a still 

 darker brown colour, is shown in Fig. 14 (x 700). Some of the 

 brown Fungus-germs into which such a mass becomes resolved 

 may be seen in Fig. 15 (x 500), beginning to grow into short 

 chains, preparatory to the formation of mycelia. 



