204 DESCHiPTiON OF \^Pol ijfjcuirica. 



sions, straight or flexiiose, sometimes bifid or branching. In animal 

 infusions. Length 1- 190th. 



Amceba crassa, (D.) — More or less rounded, thick, containing nu- 

 merous granules, expansions circular, numerous, not very prominent, 

 Length 1 -880th to 1 -520th. In the water of the MediteiTanean. 



A. ramosa, (D.) — Body globular or ovoid, containing a great 

 quantity of granules, and emitting numerous expansions of nearly 

 equal size, rounded at their extremities, and of the same length as 

 the body, and mostly branched. 



Other varieties of these peculiar beings are refen-ed to, but not 

 specially described by Dujardin, to one, however, he proposes the 

 name of Amoeba injiata. 



Dujardin appends the following obscrv^ations : — 



"It is impossible to establish Zoological species in the case of 

 animalcules, having no determined form, without appreciable organi- 

 zation ; the mode of origin and of reproduction of which, are alike 

 imknown, and upon which we may suppose the nature of the liquid 

 produces very great changes. For, from what precedes we may con- 

 clude, that most of the Aniceha described, are developed in saline 

 solutions, more or less saturated, and often also in liquids, having 

 their fluidity diminished by organic matter held in solution." 



Famixy.— AECELLINA. 



This family contains polygastxic animalcules, which possess an 

 alimentary canal, a single opening of the body, are provided with a 

 loriea, and can change their figure by means of variable pediform 

 processes. The loriea, which is univalved, is pitcher or dish-shaped, 

 and the possession of it is the chief feature, distinguishing this 

 family from the Amcehaea. The body is soft and gelatinous, and in 

 some cases appears to flow, as it were, from the opening of the loriea. 

 The organs of locomotion are soft variable processes, situated at the 

 anterior part of the body ; they are sometimes withdrawn, at others 

 protruded ; sometimes they appear simple, at other times branched. 

 In five species, numerous digestive vesicles are seen. No traces of 

 a sensitive system have been discovered. The reproductive system 



