Montlily Microscopical"! 
Journal , Dec. 1, 1869. J 
in Organic Infusions. 
313 
into whicli they will, in the absence of a vegetable organism, 
usually be developed, although under other conditions the appear- 
ance of a fungoid growth may ensue. Or, it may be said, that the 
development of the organic germs in question may end in the 
formation of infusoria, but that before reaching this point it may 
be arrested, there being simply the formation of fresh "germs," 
the substance of the original ones appearing from time to time as 
a fungoid growth, the cell-contents of which are supphed by the 
renewed germs themselves. 
Many curious facts bearing on this subject have been recorded 
by microscopists. Such are the phenomena noticed by Dr. Hartig 
and Mr. Carter, the former of whom affirms that " Amoeba may be 
produced by the transformation of the ' antherozoids ' of Chara, 
Marchantia, or Mosses ; and that, in their turn, they become meta- 
morphosed, first into Protococci or other unicellular Algae, and then 
into articulated Algae."* There is no improbability in these 
changes, if the hypothesis I have advanced be correct. In fact, 
the phenomena observed by Dr. Hartig are perfectly analogous 
to those I have described — the development of low animal forms 
from supposed vegetable germs. I say " supposed," for the anthe- 
rozoids of aU the simple plants appear to me to be purely infusorial 
germs, and they may, I have little doubt, be as readily developed 
into infusoria as the contents of ordinary vegetable seeds. I have 
myself obtained the Amoeba under curious circumstances. If coal 
be powdered and placed in water, a peculiar microscopic vegetable 
growth will, after a while, be found to have been developed, and 
still later numerous crystalHne or jeUy-like excrescences and tube- 
like protuberances which have a perceptible movement make their 
appearance. In an infusion of this description which I have had 
for several months, I have met recently with several examples of a 
beautiful form of Amoeba, and also others of a much larger kind, 
which moved about among the coal vegetation, to which it adhered. 
At one extremity only did those changes of form take place which 
are necessary to the progress of the Amoeba ; there being towards 
the other a circular marking, probably the contractile vesicle, and 
forward movement being effected by the protrusion of a broad hmb, 
or rather " lip," of a much lighter colour than the body itself, and 
at the margin of which I distinctly caught sight on one occasion of 
the vibration of small cilia. The development of this creature, 
unless it was introduced with the water of the infusion, which I do 
not believe, strongly supports the view I have taken that there is 
an intimate connection between the initial phases of animal and 
vegetable life. 
* But see note in Dr. Carpenter's work on the Microscope, 3rd edit., p. 357. 
