LIEBERKiiHN, ON SPONGILLiE. 
215 
existed,, the globules being replaced by granules exhibiting 
an active molecular motion. 
That the gemmules are formed from agglomerations of 
sponge-cells may be readily proved in the branched sponge 
containing smooth gemmules. In a longitudinal section of 
a suitable portion we find — 
1. Gemmules which are perfectly developed and consist of 
a smooth case and numerous globular bodies^ first accurately 
investigated by Meyen ; each of these globular bodies con- 
tains an albuminous fluid and numerous highly refractive 
vesicles ; it is about the size of a sponge-cell^ and is rapidly 
disintegrated in water. 
2. Gemmules having a distinct case^ and containing, besides 
the globular bodies of Meyen, corpuscles resembling these, 
but differing from them in the circumstance that they throw 
out protean processes as do the sponge-cells. 
3. Gemmules with distinct case, and furnished with a 
pore, and containing only corpuscles of the nature of those 
last described. Some of these corpuscles contain a nucleus 
and nucleolus similar to those of a sponge-cell, from which 
they difffer apparently only in the circumstance that they are 
filled completely with the vesicles above described. 
4. Spherical masses of the same size as the gemmules, and 
composed of the motile corpuscles just noticed and of dis- 
tinct sponge-cells. These sponge-cells have a distinct nucleus 
and nucleolus, and besides these, contain a very finely granu- 
lar substance, dispersed either uniformly throughout the 
entire cell, or collected into minute spherical masses ; these 
spherical masses have the same dimensions as the vesicles 
above referred to, and in many cells they are associated with 
several of these vesicles. On many of the spherical agglo- 
merations of cells an excessively delicate structureless mem- 
brane may be already noticed. 
It would appear, therefore, that the " globules " of Meyen 
are nothing more than altered sponge- cells. 
The autumn is the most favorable season for observing the 
process of their formation. 
With respect to the destination of the contents of these 
gemmules, Lieberkiihn first quotes Mr. Carter's observations 
recorded in the ^ Annals of Nat. History ' (2d ser., vol. iv, 
p. 81, 1849), whose description of the mode of formation 
and composition of the gemmules pretty nearly accords with 
his own, and then proceeds to say that he has never suc- 
ceeded in causing the expressed contents of the gemmules to 
VOL. V. T 
