118 ANIMAL ACTIVITIES. 
Taking Food. Not only is the Ameeba destitute of 
jaws and sucking-tubes, but it even lacks a mouth. 
Its food consists largely of minute one-celled organisms 
which it swallows at any part of its body by simply 
flowing over and around them. 
Nutrition. The particles of food which have been 
swallowed are gradually dissolved and chemically 
changed so as to become a part of the protoplasm of 
the Amceba’s body. The shell of the plant is thrust 
out through the Amceba’s covering at any point when 
all the nutritious matter has been taken from it. Dis- 
solving and chemically changing the food is digestion. 
Making it a part of the Amceba’s protoplasm is asszm- 
lation. There is no stomach or intestine, but the food 
while digesting moves about with the granular proto- 
plasm in a somewhat regular way. 
Respiration. There are no organs for breathing, 
but oxygen from the surrounding water enters the living 
protoplasm and carbon dioxide and other impurities 
are given off. 
Reproduction. When the Amceba has eaten and 
digested food until it has grown to be too large, the 
nucleus shows signs of divid- 
ing, the Amceba assumes a 
dumbbell shape and finally 
splits into two Ameebas, 
each equally capable of 
Fic. 100.—Ameeba Feeding. leading an independent ex- 
istence. Parent and off- 
spring are alike, if either can be called parent. This 
mode of reproduction by division is called fission. 
Discovery. If touched the Amceba contracts. It 
is then sensitive to touch, but there can be no special 
parts of the body fitted to receive impressions from 
without. It is everywhere equally sensitive. 
Movements. Not only does the Amceba withdraw 
when touched, but it seems capable of self-directed 
movement as well. The method of procedure consists 
