OF ANIMALCUL?:S. 169 



parency of the intervening integuments, appears to have 

 an opening at the side, but which in reality is not the case. 

 This manducatory organ, through which the food passes, 

 has at its commencement on each side three indentations or 

 teeth : Dr. Ehrenberg only mentions two. From this 

 emanates the long narrow alimentary canal, which is 

 rendered more distinct when the animalcule is fed 

 on indigo, but which in its ordinary condition, when 

 filled wuth pellucid matter, is not so perceptible. The 

 termination of this canal becoming enlarged, forms 

 the cloaca. When the animalcule stretches itself, the 

 canal is nearly straight ; but when contracted, it is ser- 

 pentine, as in figure 255 ; and the large eggs arranged 

 on either side of it lay closer together : nine may be 

 counted in the figure. 



The tail has considerable muscular play, and is fur- 

 nished with three pair of forked prongs, two only of 

 which are usually observed, the third pair being for at- 

 tachment. Although this animalcule is produced from 

 the egg, yet sometimes it is deposited by the parent 

 alive : moreover, the eyes, and the action of its bulbous 

 oesophagus, may be seen while it is within the egg. 



From the great length of the insertion of the muscles 

 of the body, it is enabled to contract itself more than the 

 V. senta, and to form itself into a globular mass : this is 

 its usual shape when it dies, or when the water evaporates ; 

 for it will remain in this form for some time, and after- 

 wards revive. But as this peculiarity has been disputed, 

 the following account of an experiment made by me of 

 this nature may be interesting. 



N 



