4 Wen II AM, on the Vegetable Cell. 
has been deposited in the plant ovule, the occurrence of a 
cyclosis or circulation is said to have been discovered, passing- 
through the channel of communication that is formed between 
the granule and embryo sac. This I have not yet witnessed. 
Whether the protoplasm contained in vegetable cells is 
endowed with the property of fertilization, I am not able to 
affirm, unless the following circumstance can be taken as 
evidence of the fact. During the conjugation of some of the 
Algol and Desmidiecc, the contents of two cells are expelled, 
and first unite in the form of a shapeless mass ; the accom- 
panying protoplasm is now seen to extricate itself from inter- 
vening particles, and envelope the whole of the ejected 
endochrome with a gelatinous-looking sheath. All irregular 
projections are next drawn inwards, and the mass acquires a 
spherical or ovoid form. The exterior of the layer of proto- 
plasm is then converted into an investing membrane, and 
finally a perfect sporangium is the result. 
The point that I wish to direct attention to is this. If just 
at the time that the combined masses of endochrome are 
assuming the spherical shape, the lid of the compressor used 
for the observation is repeatedly raised and lowered, so as to 
wash away the investing layer of protoplasm, the mass of 
endochrome will retain its ragged outline, without alteration, 
for many successive days, and a sporangium will not be 
eventually formed, thus showing that it is the living proto- 
plasm that imparts the principle of vitality to the germ, and 
also arranges the cell contents in the proper course of sym- 
metry and order. 
There are some remarkable movements of corpuscular 
activity to be observed in some seeds, mainly due to the 
presence of protoplasm. If a very thin slice of horse chest- 
nut is moistened with a small quantity of water, and covered 
with thin glass- after about one hour's duration the motion 
will be in full force. The whole field of view is filled with 
active granules of protoplasm, and also of starch, in all stages 
of growth, the most minute of the latter being possessed of 
molecular motion. There are some spots in the fluid not to 
be distinguished from the surrounding medium, either by 
difference of density or any other indication, and which yet 
cause a very peculiar action, for when the active particles 
approach these places they are whirled rapidly past. Some- 
times a molecule will suddenly start forward and shoot 
straight across the field of view with considerable velocity, 
dashing others out of its course. This oftentimes happens 
when two have become adherent, and occasionally several 
will be linked together in the form of a spirozoid, which 
