54 M. Ehrenberg's Researches on the Infusoria. 



the rupture of their bodies was observed after the water which 

 adhered to them was evaporated. In this experiment these 

 little beings were less conspicuous than they appeared in the me- 

 thod previously employed, and their internal parts were conse- 

 quently less distinct ; at the same time, this experiment often 

 succeeded, and the violet colours of the liquid always remained 

 intense and without alteration. Nor did the simple flattening 

 of these globular vesicles effect the decoloration, for they remain 

 flat for some moments after they are extruded from the body ; 

 and notwithstanding their colour is not changed. 



The only phenomenon analogous to that just mentioned is 

 to be found in the small species of the Entomostracea. It has 

 long been known, that certain of these animals exhibit brown, 

 green, or red vesicles during certain epochs of their lives, or 

 during certain seasons. These vesicles are dispersed in the 

 substance of their bodies, and the liquid they contain is oily. 

 J urine, who has found analogous vesicles in the Daphnies, re- 

 gards them as belonging to the ovaries ; in which, however, he 

 is wrong, inasmuch as the two ovaries, of a longish form, have 

 previously had their situation indicated by him, in the place 

 which they occupy upon the two sides of the body. They are 

 still more frequently found in the Cyclops. It is especially re- 

 markable, that such infusores as the Bursaria, as well as the 

 Rotatores, exhibit, in their organization, a great resemblance to 

 the little Entomostracea. 



IV. Upon Internal Organs like BranchicBf which have been discovered 

 in the Rotatoria. 



There has often been a good deal of discussion concerning the 

 respiration of these rotatory animals. Even before Cuvier, 

 Paula de Schrank regarded their rotatory organs as the respira- 

 tory apparatus, because, instead of drawing the aliment towards 

 the body by its movement, it repelled it. We need scarcely 

 remark that this opinion is a palpable mistake, which may be 

 thus accounted for. When the rotatores are hungry, they 

 devour greedily ; but the current which their rotatory organs 

 occasions, continually draws so great a quantity of nourishment 

 along with it, that the animals can only take a small portion of 

 it at a time ; the remainder continues in and passes off" with the 



