34 
From the foregoing history Cienkowski draws the following conclusions t 
The Monad spore, cell, and cyst, represent morphologically exactly 
similar states in the evolution of Algae, whilst compared with Infusoria 
only two of these states correspond. Morphologically therefore the Monad 
is more nearly allied to the vegetable. The great contrast however lies in 
the Monad's mode of alimentation , which being active instead of passive, 
partakes of the character of animal life. The ordinary Amoeba simply 
encloses the food with which it comes in contact. The Monad goes in 
active pursuit like an animal conscious of its object ; thus the Colpodella 
attacks Chlamydomonus, plunders it of its soft chlorophyll and decamps. 
The V. Spir. bores through the plant stem and sucks in the whole contents 
together with the primordial membrane enclosing them ; moreover it selects 
its particular plant stem, whilst the V. Pendula takes its food from several 
kinds of vegetable conferva. The final conclusion of Cienkowski is, that 
the Monad is an animal, which by its spore forming cell indicates a tran- 
sition stage towards the vegetable life and character. On the other side 
its Amoeba with pointed pseudopods indicates a general relation with the 
Rhizopod. I hope to have at some future time the opportunity of collect- 
ing the numerous histories of Rhizopod life and presenting a comparative 
view of various recently described Rhizopods. 
V. 
On some Evidence in favour of Subsidence in the South West 
Counties of England during the Recent Period. 
By Edward W. Claypole, B, Sc., B. A. 
Readbefore the Geological Section of the Naturalists' Society, Jan. 12, 1S70. 
It is a well known fact to most Members of this Section, that there 
exist masses of peat on the beaches of many of the more sheltered coves 
and inlets around our south-west coast. 
In the instance mentioned in this paper —that at Gyllyngyaes, 
Falmouth— sections of which were illustrated by diagrams, the peat 
bed occupies the innermost part of the curve of the shore and lies upon a 
bed of very tenacious clay. It is covered by the ordinary shingle and 
gravel of that coast, which consists mainly of white quartz pebbles obtained 
from the veins of the same material traversing the slate rocks of the 
