70 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 1, 1859. 
flavour Was not fully developed, as we have seen it on former 
Occasions in specimens grown in heat. 
At this meeting prizes were awarded of one guinea and half a 
guinea for the best and second best dishes of Dessert Pears of 
any kind. A great number of varieties were placed for compe¬ 
tition ; and the first prize was awarded to Duchesse d’ Angouleme, 
from Mr. Whiting, of the Deepdene; and the second to Mr. 
Ingram, gardener to J. J. Blandy, Esq., of Reading, for Peurre 
de Capiaumont. 
Prizes of the same amount were also awarded for the best and 
second best dishes of Dessert Apples, both of which were taken 
by Mr. Sidney Ford, gardener to W. E. Hubbard, Esq., Hor¬ 
sham, with Ribston Pippin and Reinetle Grise. 
First and second prizes, of one guinea and half a guinea, were 
awarded for the best Culinary Apples, for which there were many 
competitions. The Society has determined that Apples of this 
class shall in future be baked, so that a full appreciation of their 
merits may be obtained. The awards were to Mr. Newton, 
Enfield Chase, for New Hawthornden , and to Mr. Sidney Ford for 
Edmund Jupp , a variety grown about Horsham under that name. 
So greatly has the business of the Society increased and the 
length of the Reports become, that we find it impossible to give 
more than a mere outline of the proceedings. We must, there¬ 
fore, refer our readers to the Reports published by the Society 
for more detailed accounts. 
WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON THE SEASHORE. 
(Continued from page 31.) 
CHAP. I.—PROTOZOA. 
INFUSORIA—RHIZOPODA — PORIFERA. 
As our design in these pages is solely to investigate animal 
organisations, we must pass by unnoticed the numerous varieties of 
marine vegetation with which sea and shore abound. And, highly 
interesting as their examination would be, we must leave un¬ 
touched the Sea or Bladder-wrack, the Knotted-wrack, the Sea- 
lace, Sea-girdles, Sea-wands, Sea-furbelows, Peacocks’ tails, and 
all the extensive variations of the so-called Sea-weed, and com¬ 
mence with the class of animalcules called Protozoa, which 
present the very lowest grade of animal life. So close, indeed, 
are they on the borders of the vegetable kingdom, that it be¬ 
comes a matter of some difficulty in many instances to decide 
whether they are on one side or the other: they seem to be 
sluggish, inert, lifeless masses of jelly, without feeling, functions, 
or organs, and very frequently without form. Many of them, 
however, when viewed by the aid of a magnifying-glass when alive 
and under water are seen to discharge strong currents from 
certain distinct orifices ; and if they are torn asunder the whole 
substance is found to be perforated by irregular canals, all of 
which commuuicate with the surface—one set narrow and 
minute, by which the water is admitted ; the other wide and 
ample, by which it is discharged. They are to be found on the 
surface of the rocks, on the under side of stones, at low water 
in the cavities of the shore which are washed by the tide, and 
frequently they may be seen attached to branches of Sea-weed. 
The Protozoa may be divided into three classes—Infusoria, 
Rhizopoda, and Porifcra. 
The Infusoria (Infusories) are so called from the fact of their 
being discovered in infusions of all kinds of organic matter, 
vegetable as well as animal. They abound in all stagnant pools, 
also in running st reams, whether salt or fresh ; and, being purely 
microscopic, can only be examined under a magnifying-glass. 
They are changeable in form, extremely minute, naked, without 
external organs, nervous system, or vessels. They have mostly i 
internal globose cavities ; and their locomotion is effected by 
means of cilia, or slender threads, the lashing to and fro of which 
serves to propel them through the water. Their speed, however, 
vanes : some moving very rapidly, others slowly and with 
apparent effort. Careful observation has established the fact of 
*,.®,I )er l ) ^ u ^ motion of these little creatures. They make no 
difference between day and night, and are never seen in a state of 
repose. Sleep appears to be perfectly unnecessary to them— 
they pass their lives in one restless, unending round of motion. 
Tittle red spots have been noticed on most of them, which have 
been pronounced to be eyes; but it is a presumption built on 
little or no foundation. 
Although many Infusoria are peculiar to fresh water, still 
large numbers are marine, as may be readily seen by examining 
under a lens some sea-water which has been a short time in an 
aquarium. It seems somewhat difficult to give these animalcules 
any distinct position: many genera having been proved to bo 
simply the earlier stages of higher animals ; others are said to be 
merely vegetables endowed with spontaneous motion. But surely 
the existence of such spontaneous motive power elevates them 
above the simple vegetable. Some zoologists maintain that the 
whole group can and will ultimately be resolved into other 
classes. Perhaps the wisest judgment to be formed of them is 
to adopt the words of Dr. Burnett, who says, “ I regard the 
Infusories as in a completely transition state; and although it 
may be well to arrange these forms systematically for the sake of 
convenience, yet they cannot be considered as holding fixed 
zoological positions.” 
The Rhizopoda are microscopic animalcules of very simple 
structure, and closely allied to the Infusoria. They may be 
described generally as merely transparent membranes of a glu¬ 
tinous consistency, of an infinite variety of form; some oblong, 
some flat, some cylindrical, some globular, and others of various 
angular forms. In some there is an appearance of external 
organs such as tails, and long contractile threads or filaments 
(cilia), which are used for the purposes of locomotion. Some of 
these creatures are entirely unprotected; whilst others are 
enclosed in a horny case, which has several orifices for the emission 
of the long tenacious threads before mentioned. Many of them 
are to be found in fresh water, but by far the greater number of 
them are inhabitants of the sea. 
Grantia compressa anti its calcareous spicula. wards. 
The Porifera , or Sponges, are a very curious branch of the 
! family of the Protozoa; and as being more familiar than the 
j other species demand a more particular notice. That the limits 
between the animal and vegetable kingdoms are very difficult of 
definition is an established fact; and the opinion given of Sponges 
by two competent authorities only tends to confirm it. Pro¬ 
fessor Owen remarks that “ if a lino could be drawn between the 
animal and vegetable kingdoms, the Sponges should be placed on 
the vegetable side of that line.” Whilst Dr. Johnston, in his 
Hist, of Brit. Zoophytes ” has this passage:—“ Sponges are 
true zoophytes; and it imparts additional interest to their study 
to consider them, as they probably are, the first matrix and 
cradle of organic life, and exhibiting before us the lowest organi¬ 
sations compatible with its existence.” 
The common Sponge (Spongia officinalis'), is obtained chiefly 
from the eastern part of the Mediterranean, more especially 
round the numerous islands of the Grecian Archipelago, where it 
is found adhering to the rocks by a broad base, and assuming a 
more or less manifest cup form. The coarser sort is supplied by 
Barbndoes and the Bahama Islands. Independently of these, 
however, the streams and shores of the British Isles produce 
sixty or seventy distinct species. Whoever has looked with any 
