“ As I continued my observations, I happened to look at
the surface of the Avater, and Avas not a little astonished to
find it covered, especially toAvards the side of the vase, with
minute globules, unequal both in colour and size. Many of
them swam freely about here and there, moving at their
option in one way or another, retiring and approaching one
another, ghding round globules that avere motionless, stopping,
and again setting themselves in motion exactly like animated
beings.
“ Conjecturing the identity of the green globules that possessed
motion with those th a t had none, I immediately began
to examine Avhence these infusory animalcula derived their
origin, and Avhat relation they bore to the green globules
and the fructification of the Conferva.
“ The next day I perceived a great number of the globules
aggregated around the bubbles of air, disengaged from the
Conferva and floating at the surface. Some of them were
of a dark-green colour, and either round or elongated;
others more transparent, tumid, and Avith one or two appendages
diverging from or at right angles with each o th e r;
these were evidently plants In a state of germination; other
globules again Avere oval, very dark at one extremity, and
almost transparent at the other ; these swam about freely.
“ Within the space of an hour I succeeded in tracing not
only the diminution of vitality and death of the Infusoria,
but also the subsequent developement of the dead animals into
o-erminating plants, in such a manner as to establish the
tru th of the fact. But on the 12th of March, I had the
pleasure of ascertaining distinctly the origin of these minute
bodies. I undertook to observe without interruption one of
the tubercles of fructification, which I have already mentioned
as terminating the filaments, in order to discover Avhat became
of the green matter enclosed Avithin it. I had observed it for
the space of half an hour when the following changes became
perceptible.
“ The globule became gradually darker in its colour, and a
little traL p a ren t at its extremity: in the middle it Avas
evidently somewhat contracted, and had some traces of
spontaneous motion. I could scarcely believe my eyes Avhen
I perceived the contraction to become more decided, and a
cavity to be formed at the base. The contraction at length
divided the globule into tAvo smaller globules, which moved
spontaneously toAvards the summit. As the developement
proceeded, the cavity and the uppermost globule became
enlarged, while the inferior globule became diminished : the
latter at length disappeared, and the remaining large globule
escaped by a terminal orifice, ascending till it reached the
surface of the water. The whole of this process occupied
about thirty seconds; but from subsequent observations it
may be stated generally to take up one minute.”
M. Unger has, in his late work, verified the correctness of
the above observations in all essential particulars, and has
further proved th a t the motion of the spores is owing to
their surface being covered with vibratile ciliary organs, until
lately supposed to be «haracteristic of animal life. M. G.
Thuret has also more recently published an excellent memoir
on the formation and developement of the spores in Vaucheria
clavata. See Introduction.
“ From the Constancy that is observed in the Number Figure Place
and Make of all the principal Parts; and from the Variety in the less.
Man is always mending and altering his Works; but Nature observes
the same Tenor, because her Works are so perfect that there is no
place for Amendments; nothing that can be reprehended. The most
sagacious Men in so many Ages have not been able to find any Flaw in
th^se Divinely contrived and formed Machines, no Blot or E r ro r in this
great Volume o f the World, as i f anything had been an imperfect Essay
at the first (to use the Bishop of Chester’s Words:) Nothing that can be
altered for the better; nothing but if it were altered would be marred.”
— I ta f s Wisdom o f God.