124 
immediately appeared that these bodies did not belong to 
the true Rhizopoda, but, perhaps, to one of those very simi- 
lar organisms of the simplest kind. Under a stronger mag- 
nifier (fig. 24), these bodies looked like small globular par- 
ticles of jelly, whose central plasma-body radiated from its 
whole periphery a very large quantity of fine, radial, mucous 
threads (pseudopods). This peripheral zone of threads was 
about as broad, or only a little broader, at most twice as 
broad, as the diameter of the central sarcode mass, from 
which these radiated. This measured about - 01 mm., so that 
the entire diameter of the body of the largest individuals was 
•03 mm., but in the longest extension of the rays reached 
•05 mm. The threads which proceeded from the surface of the 
ball of jelly with a tolerably broad conical base rapidly nar- 
rowed, and terminated in a very fine point. Ramifications 
of the threads were very unusual, and were not here and there 
observable as simple, seldom repeated, forked divisions, which 
ran at a very sharp angle partly from the base, and some- 
what more from the outer portion of the threads. Anasto- 
moses were also very sparingly present, except in those por- 
tions where nourishment had just been taken (fig. 23). 
The entire substance of the body of this slender, nume- 
rously rayed jelly-star was throughout structureless and 
homogeneous. The similarly constructed sarcode mass of 
the central ball passed its periphery unbroken over the out- 
stretched threads. The only bodies which could be perceived 
in the structureless, pale yellowish, or nearly colourless, 
ground substance, were numerous very small interspersed, 
bright shining particles, and a small number of larger, 
also strongly refracting, granules. If these granules sus- 
pended in the plasma of the jelly-star were continuously 
observed, a very slow and deliberate change of position could 
be noticed among them, apparently the indication of a slow 
current of the sarcode, which demonstrated that the mass 
Avas of very considerable consistency. This was, indeed, 
manifested by the superposition of a covering-glass, by the 
moderate pi-essure of Avhich the globular body Avas but a little 
flattened. The nearest adjoining bundles of threads Avere 
broken off, and their detached points, some of them bent 
several times, swam about in the Avater. By continued pres- 
sure a still larger quantity of the protruded pseudopods Avere 
loosened ; others Avere very sloAvly retracted. On increased 
pressure the Avhole body Avas reduced to a shapeless mass, 
Avhich did not, however, spread itself out flat on the stage, 
but broke into many irregular pieces. All these phenomena 
apparently indicated an unusual consistency and toughness 
