8 
ZOOLOGY. 
The Amoeba has the power of digesting and of distributing 
and absorbing the food (Fig. 1, Ti, food-ball) when digested. 
The Amoeba reproduces 
its kind by simply dividing 
into two portions, as seen 
in Fig. 3. After becom- 
ing encysted or forming a 
round mass as at it 
breaks out of the cell- wall 
and becomes free and ir- 
regular in shape as at ^. 
Self-division then begins 
as at C, the nucleus divid- 
ing into two, until at Da 
and Dh two separate individuals are formed. 
When the Amoeba is touched it (1) contracts its body — it 
Fig. 2.— Amoeba proteus. A, the left- 
hand figure, the most usual form ; the 
right shows the broad, flat pseudopo- 
dia; the arrows indicate the direction 
of circulation of the granules. Highly 
magnified. 
A 
• B 1 
.... 
c 
Fig. 3, — Amoeba aphcerordcrus. A, before division. B. the same in its resting 
stage; a, cyst or cell-wall; d, body-mass; c, nucleus; b. nucleolus. C, Amoeba; 
nearly divided. D, two young Aincebae, the result of division. Highly mag- 
nified. 
is thus said to be contractile — and (2) performs automatic 
movements; also, like tjie higher animals, (3) it swallows 
