174 DESCEirxiON OF {^Polygastrica. 



their classification, tlic chief of which are the steadiness of the 

 spu-al direction of the proboscis, and their manner of movement. 

 Lately, Unger has found spermatic animalcules in the anthcridia of 

 Polytrichum j'uniperinum, P. commune, P. urnigerum, and P. alpestre, as 

 well as in Funaria hygrometrica, Bryum mspidatum, and B. punc- 

 tatum, &c., &c. In Polytrichum commune, the animalcules are found 

 in very small hexahedral cells -with rounded comers. Generally, 

 whilst in the cells they are motionless ; in some, however, a tremu- 

 lous motion of the thin proboscis, and in others, again, a rotatory 

 motion, interrupted at inteiTals, was seen. The diameter of the deK- 

 cate proboscis is 0.004th of an inch. In a few animalcules, isolated 

 from their cells, a trembling oscillating motion of the proboscis was 

 seen." 



To these particidars, I may add a remark of Dr. linger, quoted in 

 the Ann. des Sciences Nat., which induced me to introduce the 

 species: — 



"The doubts," says linger, "which remain concerning some of 

 the organs of the animalcules of mosses, further increase the incer- 

 titude as to their situation in the scale of beings. From all circimi- 

 stances, I am incHncd to place them in the genus Spirillum of 

 Ehrenberg, and to describe them under the name of Sjnrillum 

 hryozoon." 



On mentioning these pai-ticulars to Mr. Yarlcy, he refeiTed me to 

 his article on Chara, in the 50th vol. Trans. Soc. Arts, from which is 

 extracted the following : — 



"Prom these cells" (in the globule in the axil of the Chara) 

 " grow out numerous clusters of long vessels, possessing the most 

 extraordinary features yet observed. "When these are first protruded 

 from the globiile, if not quite mature enough, theii' appearance is 

 like dense or strongly-marked ringed vessels, the divisions of which, 

 or their contents, soon begin to appear irregular. * * * After a wliile, 

 these ciuis \vithin the divisions become agitated ; some shake, or 

 vibrate about; others revolve in their confined places, and many 

 come out, tlnxs showing that they are spirals of two or three curls; 

 these with an agitated motion swim about * * * Now the field of 

 view appetu's filled with life ; great numbers of these spirals are 

 st'cu agitated and moving in all directions ; they all have u diicctile 



