682 



SYSTEMATIC HISTOET OF THE INFUSORIA. 



collarls, 5. N. aurita, and 6. N. ansataJ' To these species must be added 

 a seventh, called by Ehrenberg Cycloglena Lupus, and an eighth, which we 

 distinguish as Notommata vennicularis. 



All the best observers agree that the genus Notommata requires division, 

 being a very defective one, and containing the elements of several genera ; 

 but all the siDecies now composing it must be subjected to a very careful and 

 individual examination before such a division can be made. Until this is 

 accomplished we retain the genus as adopted by Ehrenberg, observing that 

 the analysis of Ehrenberg's views respecting it, as given in a preceding page, 

 will ultimately require many modifications. Some species have already been 

 carefully investigated by Gosse, Perty, and Leydig. 



a. Subgenus Labidodon. 



Notommata Myrmeleo. — Body large, 

 bell-shaped; foot short, lateral; teeth 

 cm*ved in a circular forceps-like manner 

 (xxxin. 420). There are two varieties : 

 in the one (var. a), a long thin oesopha- 

 gus, a globular thick stomach, and a long 

 rec^um constitute the alimentary organs. 

 Ehrenberg, by pressure, made an ani- 

 malcule, whose dark stomach nearly 

 hlled the body, disgorge two large spe- 

 cimens of Lijnceus minuttis (described 

 and figured in the Microscopic Cabinet) ; 

 the animalcide afterwards vibrated away 

 in a lively manner. Five transverse mus- 

 cular bands and four longitudinal ones 

 (a pair uniting to each of the first two 

 transverse ones) represent a muscular 

 system in this variety. In the other 

 (var. h), a distinct muscular network is 

 seen at the head, but only four trans- 

 verse bands and two longitudinal ones 

 going to the first. The red eye is much 

 larger in this variety, (xxxiii. 418, a 

 side view of the variety h : to exhibit its 

 organization, a small Crustacean is shown 

 within its stomach. Fig. 420, the man- 

 ducatory organs separated ; fig. 419, the 

 upper part of an animalcule, var. a, show- 

 ing the smaller eye, rotary organs, teeth, 

 and network.) Found in clear water, in 

 turf-hollows. 1-40". 



Notomtnafa Myrmeleo, var. midticeps, 

 according to Leydig, presents the follow- 

 ing features : — The foot, which on a pro- 

 file view appears given oft' fioni a lateral 

 surface, projects from the abdominal 

 one. The rotary organ not consisting 

 of separate portions, but forming a con- 

 tinuous ^a-eatli, which descends towards 

 the mouth, forming an apparent fissure. 

 On the free surface are four unsynnne- 

 trical lobes bearing larger setiform cilia. 

 Cuticle soft and thin, slightly acted on 

 by acid, which renders it clearer ; sub- 

 jacent layer granular and homogeneous. 

 INIaxillary head very large. Oesophagus 

 long, thin, folded longitutinally. Stomach 



— One tooth in each jaw. 



round, with ciliated cells : no rectmn 

 beyond the stomach, Ehrenberg being 

 in error on this point; debris rejected 

 by the mouth. A respiratory canal pro- 

 ceeds from each side the contractile sac 

 towards the head, being much convo- 

 luted and enveloped with cell-like cor- 

 puscles ; a second smaller pair follows 

 a similar course, joining the larger 

 near the maxillary bulb. The smaller 

 have not granular walls, but support 

 numerous tags, which are absent from 

 the larger canals. Two bands proceed 

 backwards from the cerebral ganglion to 

 a couple of foss8e on the dorsal surface, 

 furnished with a bundle of setse. Eye- 

 speck dark-red or black. Ovary present- 

 ing two horns, fonning an organ like a 

 horseshoe, the oviduct opening at the 

 base of the tail. Winter ova spherical, 

 bristly, with a light cortical layer con- 

 taining clear vesicles. 



N. Syrinx. — Large, bell-shaped ; lateral 

 foot scarcely visible ; teeth curved and 

 bifid at the points. This species is very 

 similar to the former, and only distin- 

 guished from it by its small foot and 

 by the spaces within the cilia-cluster 

 (mouth) being convex, not concave. 

 Found in a turf-pool. 1-40". 



N. liyptopus. — Bell-shaped, nearly glo- 

 bular, rather large ; foot slightly pro- 

 minent at the middle, teeth small ; vibra- 

 tile organ composed of four or five 

 muscular bundles ; cesophagus very short. 

 1-72". 



N. parasita (xxxix. 9). — Small, oval ; 

 foot short, teeth small; rotary apparatus 

 three or four lobes ; oesophageal head 

 globose ; oesophagus short ; alimentary 

 canal stout, simple, usually filled with 

 green matter. This cniious animalcule 

 lives in the globes of Volvox Glohator, 

 where it deposits its eggs, which are 

 therein hatched; and when of proper 

 age, the creatures eat their way out 

 through the hollow sphere. Summer 



