OF ANIMALCULES. 1/5 



GENUS XVII. 



BRACHIONUS. 



This genus is composed of animalcules enclosed within^ 

 or partially covered by, a shell-like coat. They possess 

 rotatory organs, like the Vorticella, and form, in Ehren- 

 berg's arrangement, a parallel order. In some of the 

 species eyes have been distinctly recognized, and on the 

 whole their organization is far more complex than that 

 of many others in the larger classes of animated beings. 

 They strongly resemble the Entomostracea, and as subjects 

 for the microscope they are extremely interesting, from 

 their size, and their exquisitely beautiful and elaborate 

 structure : it is on this account that I have introduced a 

 sketch of each species. 



412. Brachionus siriatus. The striped shell Animal- 

 cule, is shewn, magnified, at figures 261 and 262 ; the first 

 giving anunder view, with the rotatory organs withdrawn, 

 and the last a view of the upper side, shewing the dis- 

 position of the cilia. The pellucid shell which covers 

 the back is fluted longitudinally, deflected laterally, 

 enclosing the sides of the body, (see figure 261,) and its 

 superior extremity is formed into six indentations. The 

 body of this creature is of a pale (ritron colour when it h 



