OF THE ENCHELIA. 607 



TricliodisGus, and Podophrya belong evidently to a type of beings altogether 

 different from the ciliated animalcules inchided in the family ; and we have 

 consequently treated them as an entirely separate group from the ciliated 

 Protozoa in our general history, and have hkewise, in the present j)ortion 

 of the work, given their systematic descriptions apart. The genus Disoma 

 is a very doubtful member of this family, and is even marked as such by 

 Ehrenberg, who had very imperfectly examined it. 



The family Enchelia does not enter into the system of Perty, who disperses 

 its members among different families according to his appreciation of their 

 several affinities. Among the rest, his family " Tapinia" includes some species 

 of Leucoj^hrys of Ehrenberg and the genus Acomia of Dujardin, along with 

 several newly-constructed genera, the account of which will be annexed to 

 this present group. 



The Family " Tapinia " is thus characterized : — 



" Cilia scattered at large, or collected in groups, but not arranged in rows. 

 Animals mostly very small. Mouth not apparent, but its j)resence revealed 

 by the admission of food." This group includes the genera Acrojnsthiumy 

 Acomia, TricJioda (Duj.), Leucophrys (Ehr. ?), Cyclidium, Bceonidmm, Opis- 

 thiotricha, Siagontherium, and Megatricha. 



Another allied family, called " Apionidina," contains a species of Leuco- 

 pJirys (Ehr.). Perty assigns it the following characters : — " Family Apioni- 

 dina : Body small, soft, thicker at one end than the other ; cilia in longi- 

 tudinal rows ; mouth, where visible, situated at the anterior end." The genera 

 comprised are Pty.vidium, Colobidmm, and Apionidiiim. The first-named 

 genus has, as its type, the Leucophrys pyrifonnis (Ehr.) ; but the other two 

 are advanced as new genera, founded on newly-observed beings. 



Both in this family (Apionidina) and in that of Tapinia, several supposed 

 new genera are established by Perty, which, to render our compendium com- 

 plete, we are bound to notice and describe, although we regret to record such 

 a midtitude of genera and names, as we feel highly doubtful of their claim to 

 consideration as independent beings. 



Genus ENCHELYS (XXYIII. 64, 72, 73).— Vibratile ciha upon surface 

 wanting ; mouth terminal, truncated (direct, not oblique), devoid of teeth ; 

 surrounded by a wreath of cilia. An oesophagus is not seen except during 

 the passage of food. An anus is found in all, and in E. Farcimen a contractile 

 bladder. Self-division is transverse and complete. 



Dujardin defines his genus Enchelys as having a cylindrical, oblong, or ovoid 

 bod}^, covered with erect uniform ciHa, iiTegularly disposed. 



Cohn (Siebold's Zeitschr. 1851, B. iii. p. 273) treats this genus as synony- 

 mous with Enclielys (Duj.), and believes that several of its assigned species 

 are not independent animalcules, but embryos of Loxodes, Oxytricha, and 

 allied genera. 



Enchelys Pupa (M.) (xx^t:ii. 72, 73). 

 — Tm-gid, chib-sliaped, attenuated an- 

 teriorly ; filled with gTeenish vesicles, or 

 only with molecules ; neither a nucleus 

 nor a vesicle could be found by Ehren- 

 berg. Ehrenberg has figm-ed (in his 

 large work of 1838) the presumed form 

 of tlie polygastric nutritive system of 

 this species separately, stating it to be 

 remarkably distinct. Common in stag- 

 nant bog-water. 1-140". 



^.Farcimen {E. Farcimen et Vibrio in- 

 testinum, M.) (xxviii. 64, a-k). — Smaller, 



more cylindrical and slender than the 

 preceding ; granules whitish. These 

 creatures prey on other animalcides 

 nearly as large as themselves, which 

 they devour entire ; this will account 

 for "^ the variety of forms which they 

 assume, and which require an observer 

 to be very watchful and cautious before 

 he can pronounce on the identity of a 

 species. Ehrenberg, by patient obser- 

 vation^ saw one individual undergo a 

 great variety of forms in the act of 

 swallowing a yoimg Kolpoda Cucidltis ; 



