Asa A. Schaeffer

“ Lest the discussion of this point be suspected of being merely verbalistic, it should be recalled that the surface layer of proteus often moves at about the same rate as the ameba; that the surface layer of discoides moves about twice as fast as the ameba; that the surface layer of verrucosa and sphaeronucleosus moves about three times as fast as the ameba; and that the ectoplasm does not move at all. It is of course incumbent on one to discuss what is stated; one is not at liberty to select one of several possible interpretations. ”

“ Temperature affects therefore the wave mechanism independently of the mere viscosity of the endoplasm. The speed of movement is not merely slowed down, but the character of the waves themselves is changed. ”

“ But why should organisms generally tend to move in straight paths? This fundamentally important question has received almost no attention, excepting that rapidly moving animals like birds, flying insects, fishes and other rapidly swimming animals of various kinds and rapidly running animals tend to move in straight paths because of the physical inertia of the mass of the organism. ”