coils (see pl. l x i i . fig. 3.) within the divisions become agitated ;
some shake or vibrato about, others revolve in their confined
places, and many come out, thus showing that they are
si)lrals of two or three coils, and then Avith an agitated motion
SAvim about. Noav the field of vicAV appears filled Avitli life ;
great numbers of these spirals are seen agitated and moving in
all^ directions ; they all have a dii’ective force, one end always
going foremost and never the other ; many stray a great way
out of the field ; these, by getting clear o f each other, are
best to observe ; they do not quite keep their form as a stiff
spiral, hut their foremost end seems to lash about ; and to
many are seen attached (see plate l x i i . figs. 5, 6.) almost invisible
but very long fibres. These fibres Avere in quick undulations,
Avhich rose In waves from the spiral to their farthest
end. I t appears that these fibres cause many o f the spirals
to entangle together, and thus bring them to a state of rest ;
therefore the separate ones were best to observe.”
With a few other remarks this brief description of the
Characeoe may be terminated. The spiral disposition of
organs seems to prevail almost universally throughout the
Avorks of nature. The most superficial observer could not
be at a loss for a single moment to point out examples of it.
Ill the zoophytes this arrangement of parts is especially obvious
; in no order of productions is it, however, more apparent
than in that which is under discussion. The tubes
Avhich enfold the main cells are spirally disposed; the circulation
in these cells follows a spiral course ; and lastly, the
cells of the seed-vessel are exactly, simply, and beautifully
spiral ; exactitude, simplicity, and beauty being the chief characteristics
of the spiral disposition or formation.
The preceding pages embody an accurate and minute description
o f th e different p a rts co nstituting th e stru c tu re o f the
order Characeoe, and o f th e different remarkable phenomena
presented in those p a rts ; so accurate, indeed, as to leave b u t
little to be desired in th is respect : and yet, how much remains
to be solved and explained ! how deep is th e mystery which
veils th e rig h t understanding o f th e different actions which
have been detailed ! The following questions may be proposed,
but who shall answer them ? Is the globule really the
male apparatus ? and are the spiral coils Avhich may be
denominated animalcula the agents whereby the seeds are
fertilized? and if so, in what Avay do they effect this grand
and prime object ? what also is the nature of those numerous
particles contained in the peculiar cells whose motion seems
only to be regulated hy individual will, and Avhat is the office
over which the vesicles in the cells of the footstalks preside ?
M. Bischoff (Die Cryptogamischen Gewächse, Ire livr.,
1828) Avas the first to observe the animalcula of Chara.
Using a microscope of but feeble power, however, he did
not make out their origin. Afterwards Meyen gave very
imperfect figures of them in the “ Annales des Sciences N aturelles,”
t. X. p. 319. pi. 10. 1838. Mr. Varley, hoAvever,
from Avhose excellent papers I have had occasion to draw so
largely, appears to be the first observer, who gave an accurate,
minute, and complete description of them in his paper
in the “ Trans, of Society of Arts,” ¡mblished in 1834; a
paper, with the existence of which M. Gustave Thuret did
not seem acquainted when he published his excellent memoir
“ Sur l’Anthère du Chara ” in the 14th volume, second series,
of the “ Annales des Sciences N aturelles,” 1840, as no allusion
is made to it therein, and the facts detailed do not differ in
any essential particular from those previously made known
by Mr. C. Varley.
M. Peyen has examined the Characeoe chemically. The
following are the more important of his remarks : —
“ The orange-coloured vesicles (globules) which are seen on
the branches of Chara contain, as is known, cellules very
long and flexible. I have ascertained tha t their fine membranes
have the chemical composition of vegetable tissue,
while the substances enclosed by them present the azotized
composition proper to bodies enveloped in the young organs
of plants.”
“ These analytical results appear to me to be natural consequences
of the constitution of the reproductive organs of
Chara, such as M. Brongniart has indicated not only as to
the monospermic grain, but also relatively to the azotized