50 



ZOOTEIRA. 



it is more distantly related through a group of sponge-like creat- 

 ures called Acanthometrae, which combine in their organization 

 spicules, resembling those of Sponges, and a perforated net-work- 

 like shell, similar in conformation to that of many of the Poly- 

 cystinae; to the Actinophryians (fig. 22) it so closely approxi- 

 mates that it might be called an Actinophrys, with a stony net- 

 work thrown over it. 



The most direct line, by which we may pass from Actinophrys 

 to the higher Infusoria, is through the mediation of a very singu- 

 lar creature which was discovered, by Dr. 

 Strethill Wright, on the coast of Scotland, 

 near Edinburgh, and to which he gave the 

 name of Zooteira religata, (fig. 24). It is, 

 as he says, " an Actinophrys mounted on a 

 contractile pedicel." At times its pseudo- 

 podia (ps) are extended into extremely at- 

 tenuated threads, and at others they are 

 " all thickened or clubbed at their extremi- 

 ties." This figure (fig. 24) represents them 

 in the latter condition, and the tubular 

 stem (s) so expanded as to render its net- 

 like character (n n 1 } very conspicuous. 

 The axis of the stem is occupied by a 

 " muscular band " (m), along the centre of 

 which fluid was seen to circulate on one 

 occasion. The whole animal can retract 

 itself into the gelatinous sheath (s/i) which 

 surrounds its base. Its mode of catch- 

 ing its prey and engulfing it is precisely 

 like that of Actinophrys. 



The next animal that I shall draw your attention to, although 

 it is not directly and closely related to Zooteira, is, however, in 







Fig. 24. Zooteira religata. Strth. Wright. Magnified considerably. A 

 stalked Actinophryian. A, the head ; ps, pseudopodia ; s, stem ; n, n 1 , net-like 

 threads of the interior of the stem ; ?n, the hollow muscular band in the axis ; 

 sh, the sheath. After Strth. Wright. 



sh 



Fig. 24. 



