XII. 



ON CHLOROBESMOS EISPIDA, A NEW FLAGELLATE 



ANIMALCULE. 



By F. W. Phillips, F.L.S. 



Read at Hertford, 2ith November, 1881. 



PLATE I. 



The animalcule which I am about to introduce to your notice 

 differs so strikingly from all other known forms that it is necessary 

 to institute a new genus for its reception. 



It was found three weeks ago in water taken from Mangrove 

 Lane, Hertford, by Mr. Kobiuson, who drew my attention to an 

 animalcule having a strange motion. Being familiar with most of 

 the flagellate types of the Infusoria, I perceived that, although 

 possessing certain characteristics resembling those of Synura JJcella, 

 it differed from anything I had ever seen or read about. 



We met with three examples entangled in vegetable debris 

 which interfered somewhat with the view. I investigated them 

 carefully, making a drawing of them, as far as I could make 

 them out, and sent it to Mr. Saville Kent, the authority on the 

 Infusoria. He replied : " It is a new and highly interesting form, 

 allied to TJcella, but diffeiing substantially in the chain-like 

 grouping of the constituent zooids, and referable to my newly- 

 proposed family group, Chrysomonadince, in which all the various 

 types are characterised by the possession of two distinct lateral 

 pigment- bands . ' ' 



Before I describe the animalcule, it would perhaps be well to 

 give an outline-sketch of the section and family to which it 

 belongs. 



The present system of classification is based on the manner in 

 which food-particles are incepted, or taken in. 



The first order of the Infusoria is called Pantostomata, and in- 

 cludes all those animalcules which incept food indiffei'ently at any 

 part of the body, like the typical Amocha. The second order is 

 called Discostomata : here the animalcules incept food within a 

 circumscribed s])ace, within a collar-like expansion ; this manner 

 of inception is confined to one section, Choano-flagellata, or the 

 collared monads. In the third order, Eustomata, there is a dis- 

 tinct oral aperture, or mouth, as in Englena ; and in the fourth 

 order, Polystomata, there are many such apertures, Aeineta being 

 an example of this. 



The order Eustomata, to which our animalcule belongs, is 

 subdivided into three sections. The first, called Flagellata-eusto- 

 mata, includes those species which possess one or more flagellate, 

 or whip-like appendages, serving as the sole organs of locomotion. 

 In the second section, Cilio-flagellata, we find the flagella supple- 

 mented by rows of cilia; and in the third section the flagellum 



