385 
Life in Solutions of Colloidal Silica. 
(see PL IX, Fig. 1), and seems to be identical with that figured several times 
in Dr. Bastian’s book on ‘ The Origin of Life.’ notably with that in PI. I, 
Figs. 2 and 6 ; PL II, Fig. 8 ; PL IV, Fig. 23 ; and PL X, Fig. 57. 
After microscopical examination the remainder was collected on 
a tared filter, and when dried at ioo° C. weighed 14-4 mgm. Analysis 
showed it to consist of 38-9 per cent. Si 0 2 , a very small trace of Fe 2 0 3 , and 
a trace of Na 2 0 . No organic matter was present, as shown by absence 
of charring on heating with H 2 S 0 4 . The remaining 60 per cent, was 
presumably water. When heated the transparency of the material was 
lost, and the particles broke up to a fine white powder. The author concludes 
that they were little solid spheres of hydrated silica deposited from colloidal 
solution. 
In some of the tubes larger rounded bodies have occurred ; a mass 
of these surrounded by an amorphous deposit is shown in PL IX, Fig. 2. 
When crushed under the cover-slip these bodies separated from the matrix 
and were found to be flat discs or sacs of round or oval contour, vary- 
ing in diameter from 10 to 60 \x. Being perfectly transparent objects 
they proved very difficult to photograph, but eventually a fair representa- 
tion was obtained by varying the intensity of light in different parts of 
the field. The results are given in Figs. 3 and 4. 
Many of the bodies appear to have budded and have much the 
appearance of yeast cells. This is probably caused through cohesion of 
the smaller with the larger particles. These bodies are probably little 
discs or solid spheres rather than hollow sacs or cells, and any yeast- 
like budding would thus seem to be out of the question. Evidence for 
this view is afforded by one or two specimens shown in Pfigs. 3 and 4, which 
have been broken by pressure on the cover-glass in mounting, and which 
exhibit irregular fracture strongly indicative of such solid nature. It is not 
suggested that these large bodies were exactly the same as those described 
by Dr. Bastian as Torulae, but they seem to differ only in point of size from 
those which he figures in PL VIII, Figs. 45 and 47 B of his book. 
The author is indebted to the late Dr. Bastian for supplies of materials 
used by him, and further for the opportunity he gave the author of seeing 
some of his own preparations and of opening and examining three of his own 
tubes from a series of experiments which had given him positive results. 
From one of these tubes sealed July 8, 1914, opened in December, 
1914, a large number of round bodies were obtained from a gelatinous 
deposit which had collected on the sides of the tube just above the level of 
the liquid. As first examined they had the appearance shown in Fig. 5. 
By simple manipulation with a needle a few of these were separated 
from the amorphous residue, washed well with water, and allowed to dry 
on a thin glass slide, upon which they were heated to dull redness. 
As the result of this treatment no charring was observed, and the 
