OF ANIMALCULES. 49 



GENUS IV. 



E N C H E L I S. 



This genus of animalcules^ according to MuUer, con- 

 tains twenty-seven species. His definition is, " a simple^ 

 invisible animalcule, of a cylindrical form." In the papers 

 of Ehrenberg, the Enchelis deses is placed in a new genus, 

 under the name Bacterium, (see Book III.) and he has 

 added ten new species j these I place after the E. deses. 

 It is highly probable that patient observation, with good 

 instruments, will demonstrate that several of the ani- 

 malcules which are given as distinct species of this 

 genus are merely different stages in the growth of others. 

 The size of the different species varies considerably, 

 and therefore require different magnifying powers to 

 exhibit them (from 200 to 500 linear) . If the reader have 

 an opportunity of examining any of them, in instru- 

 ments of different constructions, but of the same magni- 

 fying power, he will readily perceive that there is some- 

 thing besides magnifying power that is essentially requi- 

 site in a microscope, in order to shew the details of objects. 



38. Enchelis rinc/is. The gieen Enchelis, — This ani- 

 malcule is usually of a dark green colour, " sub-cylin- 

 drical figure," with its anterior part obliquely trun- 

 cated, as shewn at the cross in the magnified drawing of 



