P A E T III. 



classificatiojst and description 



INFUSORIAL ANIMALCULES. 



Class I. POLYGASTRICA. 



Note. — The Abbreviations used herein, are explained at the end of the 

 Contents. 



This class of animalcules is denominated Polygasti'ic from possessing 

 a digestive apparatus composed of many globular vesicles, which 

 perform the functions of stomachs. They have no perceptible nervous 

 cords or pulsation. They are hermaphi-odite, and increase by self- 

 division, or by the growth of genimulcs, or of little buds, xipon their 

 bodies ; hence their external foims appear to vary. Their locomo- 

 tive organs consist of processes (often vibratory), but they are 

 destitute of true articulated feet. 



The Polygastric animalcules, according to Ehrenberg, comprehend 

 the following families, whose relations to each other may be seen in 

 the table on the next i)age. 



