644r DESCRIPTION OF {Tolygasirico. 



Family.— OPHEYDINA. 



Comprehends loricated polygastric animalcules, solitary or aggre- 

 gate, possessing a distinct alimentary canal, a separate mouth and 

 discharging orifice, which approximate and terminate in the same 

 spot. In organization it resembles the family Varticellina ; in fact, 

 says Ehrenberg, it includes true Vorticellce or Stentores, inclosed in a 

 gelatinous membranous combustible little box (shell.) The loco- 

 motive apparatus consists of a frontal wreath of cilia; the genus 

 Ophrydiuin has a second wreath placed posteriorly, and Tintinnus an 

 elastic muscular stalk or tail. Although the polygastric organs of 

 nutrition can be demonstrated in all the tribe by using coloured 

 food, only in Ophrydium has an alimentary canal been distinctly seen 

 by Ehrenberg. In Vaginicola and CotJmrnia longitudinal division of 

 the body without the lorica has been observed. In Ophrydium ti'ans' 

 Terse di\'ision without the lorica is known. 



The genera are disposed as follows ; — 



Forn.i ig Monad clusters, through incomplete self-division of the lorica Ophrjditun. 



Single animalcules, no , 

 self-division of the lorica 



body furnished with an elastic pedicle attached \ 'rintinnus 



{lorica stalkless Vaginicola. 

 lorica stalked Cothurnia. 



The genera composing this family are otherwise arranged by 

 Dujardin, the Ophrydium (Ophrydia, Duj.) with the TJrceola/ria, and 

 Vaginicola with the Vorticella. This author AViites : 



" The so-called lorica of Ophrydia is an amorphous gelatinous 

 investment, imlike that of Vaginicola, which is a truly resistant 

 enveloping membrane. The individual beings in the gelatinous baU 

 of Ophrydia are elongated, cylindrical, or fusitbrm, and capable of 

 varying their figure," 



Eurther, the genus Vaginicola of Dujardin, includes, besides, the 

 genus of the same name in Ehrcnberg's aiTaugemeut, Tiidiunus and 

 Cothwrnia. 



