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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
outer shell, but remained separated from it by a greater or less 
number of angular interstices. A central spheroidal nucleus, 
with a contained nucleolus, one or more large refringent 
corpuscles, and numerous smaller granules, represented the sum- 
total of the recognizable internal elements. By the end of the 
second day active life had already dawned upon the scene. 
Bacteria were swiftly propelling themselves to and fro in all 
directions ; one or two biflagellate monads, Heteromitce , whose 
development was subsequently traced from certain of the smaller 
spores above mentioned, glided slowly along, dragging their 
posterior flagella, ‘ gubernacula/ cablewise behind them ; then 
presently a turn of the stage adjustment brought the observer 
face to face with a germinating spore, having a slender thread- 
like hypha. Robinson Crusoe’s feelings, when stumbling upon the 
naked footprint on the sand, frequently imagined, were moment- 
arily realized. Were De Bary and Cienkowski in the wrong ? 
Had they mistaken some of these Heteromitce , or other intrud- 
ing monads, for Myxoinycetan germs P and did this interesting 
little group after all dev elope after the manner of a common 
F ungus ? A little more patience, and the spore from which the 
hypha emanated was discovered to be entirely distinct from those 
of the Physarum , and the barometer of our hopes was once more 
in the ascendant. Sparsely scattered amongst the spores of the 
Myxomycetan were presently observed, isolated hyaline proto- 
plasmic spheres having the same diameter and structure as the 
contents of the spore- cases, just described. In a little while 
the exit of one of these hyaline spheres from the echinulate 
spore-cases was witnessed, and the relationship between the two 
substantially established. 
By the termination of the third day, these protoplasmic 
spheres had much increased in number, some of them exhibiting 
feeble amoeboid movements. An additional factor had, however, 
now appeared upon the scene in the form of a vermicular 
monadiform organism (PI. IV., figs. 49 and 50), having a length 
of 1-1250" to 1-1000", and which progressed somewhat clumsily 
through the water revolving on its longitudinal axis. A spheroidal 
nucleus, with its enclosed nucleolus, was observable towards the 
anterior extremity, and a single rhythmically contracting vesicle 
at the opposite region of the body. The derivation of these 
monadiform beings, from the extruded protoplasmic spheres, 
was immediately suspected, and the correctness of this inference 
soon substantiated. Selecting an isolated and recently- extruded 
sphere, it was carefully watched ; and within a space of two 
hours the entire transformation was gradually accomplished 
For a considerable interval the newly released germ confined 
its signs of vitality to a feeble expansion and contraction of its 
peripheral margin, and to the rhythmical pulsations of its con- 
