OY THE VIBRIONIA. 



537 



inference respecting the animal nature of the formations in question, however 

 similar the motion observed in them may be to that of animal organizations, 

 is a veiy unsafe and venturesome one. 



" We know that certain elementary constituents, animal as well as vegeta- 

 ble, possess a power of movement, and that they retain it for some time after 

 having been separated from the organisms to which they belonged. We only 

 need here remind our readers of the so-called ciliated epithelium, the several 

 cells of which swdm about in the fluid surrounding them, and have not un- 

 frequcntly, and that even quite recently, been considered independent animals ; 

 or, again, of the spores of the Algae, which actively move by the aid of a ciHated 

 investment, or of a single or manifold long whip-like fibre, until they eventually 

 become fixed and develope themselves into a new plant. Such spores as these 

 may be fomid described and illustrated in the well-known magnificent work 

 of Ehrenberg, classified as Infusoria, under the groups of Monadina, Yolvo- 

 cina, &c. 



" Under such circumstances we may consider ourselves perfectly justified 

 in declaring every attempt to prove the parasitic natiu-e of the spermatozoa 

 by the characteristic of their peculiar motion, as futile and inadmissible." 



Genus SPIRODISCUS (XVIII. 63).— Self-division imperfect and obHque, 

 producing elongated chains, or inflexible spirals, of a disc-like figure. Its 

 organization is so little known that Ehrenberg considers the genus as by no 

 means satisfactorily determined ; indeed there is little doubt that it is not a 

 member of the Vibrionia. 



Spieodiscus fulvus. — A lenticular 

 spiral, of a yellowish brown colour. 

 Articulation indistinct, xviii. 63 repre- 



sents three spirals, magnified 200 dia- 

 meters. Amongst Confervse. Breadth 

 of spiral 1-1200". 



Genus ZOOGLGEA (Cohn). — Cells (corpuscles) very minute, bacilliform, 

 hj'ahne, aggregated together in a hyaline muco-gelatinous, globose grape- 

 like, and subsequently membranaceous mass, from which they may detach 

 themselves, and swim away with a vacillating movement. 



ZooGLCEA Termo. — Free, moveable 

 cells, straight, from 1-2000'" to 1-700'". 

 It is equivalent to Palmella infusmium 

 (E.),3Iicmloa teres (vonFlotow), to some 



described fonns of Cri/ptococeus, and to 

 Bacterium Termo (i3uj.), the Vibrio 

 Lineola (E.) (x^^ii. 69). (See Part I. 

 p. 187 et seq.) 



Genus METALLACTEE. (Perty). — Bacterium-Y^kQ corpuscles, growing by 

 repeated imperfect division into stiff or shghtly flexible fibres (chains), which, 

 under certain determinate conditions, eventually lose theii^ power of movement 

 and grow into Hygrocivcis-like, tangled, fibrous masses, colourless or of a 

 grejdsh hue. 



Metallacteb Bacillus = Vibrio Ba- 

 cillm. — Articulation unobservable, or 

 seen with much difficultv. Vibrio sub- 



tilis (E.) and Bacterium Catenula (Duj.) 



are, in Perty 's judgment, nothing more 

 than delicate and transparent varieties 

 of this same organism. In Switzerland, 

 in foul pond-water, at aU seasons. 



Genus SPORONEMA (Perty) (XVIII. 65).— Very minute, cyHndrical, 



unarticulated, hoUow fibres, closed at one end (rarely at both), frequently 

 enclosing two eUiptical corpuscles (probably spores). 



Spohokema gracile (x^^ii. 65). — | Movements tolerably quick, either end 

 Fibres from 1-700"' to 1-80'" long, and , foi-ward. Specimens occur where the 

 1-1000'", and under, broad, of extremely i spores distend the fibre; others contain 

 pale-greenish tint. Often occurs with ! none. In the sediment of pond- water 

 Metulhtcter Bacillus, which it much re- \ containing Chara and Lemna, from 

 sembles ; yet is always non-articulate, i various Swiss localities. 



