156 DBSCEIPTTON OF \ Polygastrica. 



Paniwrtna morum ( Vokox morum, M.) Eody simple or multipartite, 

 enclosed within a simple lorica. Colour green ; proboscis twice as 

 long as the body. Figure 37 represents a cluster; 36, a single 

 animalcule ; and 35, one in which self-division has just commenced. 

 Found in water with Lemna and Conferva. Size of individual, 

 1-11 50th; ditto cluster, 1-1 20th. Individuals broken from the 

 cluster by Ehrenberg have not been above one-third the former 

 measurement. 



P, hyalina. Form globular. Found in the Nile with conferva. 

 Size 1-5760. 



Genius Gonium. The tablet Animalcules. — The members of this 

 genus are especially characterized by being deficient both of eye and 

 tail, by having a simple lorica, and by develoj)ing themselves in the 

 process of self-division in clusters, of a regular four-cornered tablet 

 or plate. The lorica of each individual (as is noticed after separa- 

 tion) is nearly round, and resembles a mantle (laeerna), which the 

 creature is empowered to cast off, and form anew. In one of the 

 species (G. pectorale) two filiform and vibratory proboscides are 

 placed at the mouth, as organs of locomotion, &c. ; in the other 

 species, these have not been observed. Vesicles are seen within G. 

 pectorale, notwithstanding the creatui'e abstains from coloured food ; 

 and a red speck (produced probably by inflected light) at the base of 

 the proboscides has been perceived by Ehrenberg, which he conceives 

 to be the mouth. 



G. pectorale (M). — The form of this animalcule, or more cor- 

 rectly, cluster of animalcules, is shown at figs. 38, 40, and 41. It 

 consists of sixteen spherical bodies, enclosed -^^-ithin a transparent 

 lorica or sheU, and disposed regularly in a quadrangular form, like 

 the jewels in the breast- plate of the Jewish High Priest. They are 

 all arranged in the same plane. The four centre ones are generally 

 larger than those which surround them, and the combined diameters 

 of the three smaller balls, are about equal to the two larger centre 

 ones to which they are attached ; the external comers are conse- 

 quently vacant. As these animalcules swim and revolve in the water, 

 they occasionally present a side view to the observer, when the cir- 

 cumference of the larger central globules may be seen projecting 

 beyond the others. Sometimes the clusters appear irregular ; this 



