Etichelia.] THE INFUSORIA. 277 



Family XV.— ENCHELIA. 



We now arrive at Infusoria which possess a much 

 higher organization than those hitherto described, and 

 which have a distinct alimentary canal, with the mouth and 

 discharging opening at opposite extremities of the body. 

 These animalcules are destitute of lorica ; organs of loco- 

 motion have been observed in all the genera, and in all the 

 species except two, but in no case do they consist of 

 simple vibrating proboscides, but generally of numerous 

 vibratile cilii. In the genera Actinophrys, Trichodiscus, 

 and Podophrya, locomotion is performed by slow-moving 

 feelers. In seven genera the organs of nutrition have 

 been satisfactorily demonstrated, by the employment of 

 coloured food, but only in one has the entire course of an 

 alimentary canal been traced, though in most its course is 

 indicated by the discharge at the end of the body 

 Ehrenberg states the polygastric structure is to be seen in 

 all except the Arabian Disoma. A double condition, as 

 regards the sexual apparatus, is seen in Enchelys, 

 Leucophrys, and Prorodon. Complete self-division, both 

 longitudinal and transverse, has been observed; but 

 neither gemma or polypi clusters. The members of this 

 family appear to me to resemble each other less than any 

 membranous one that has preceded. The most curious 

 animalcules among them are the double-bodied Disoma 

 and the teeth-bearins Prorodon. 



