JSnchelia.] infusortat. animalcttt-us. 555 



Entomostracn ! Found in the dust-like matter upon the surface of 

 infusions ; among Confervae and other plants in soft water. Size 

 l-1200th to 1 -430th. 



Bright well gives the following account of the tentacula and the 

 reproduction of Actinophnjs Sol. There tentacula appear to have the 

 property of attaching to themselves any Infusoria which touches 

 them ; when this is the case, they contract, and the entangled 

 Infusorium is absorbed into the body of the animal by its surface, or by 

 the thicker expansions of its body. They multiply by division, 

 80 that two, and sometimes three, indi%'idnals are seen adhering 

 together, by their outer edge — the middle one — the parent being 

 the largest. They differ much in size, and are not unfrequently 

 large enough to be seen by the naked eye. (Fauna Infusoria' 

 Norfolk.) 



The apparent property of the tentacula of Actino2)hrijs, like that of 

 the tentacules of AcUni/e and 3Iedm^, to attach to themselves 

 Infusoria, which come within their reach, and to thereby kill them 

 previously to absorption in their own substances, is mentioned also 

 by Bujardin. 



AcTiNOPHfiYs viridis. — Body spherical, greenish, rays numerous 

 and shorter than the diameter of the body, as shewn in fig. 266. 

 Found amongst Conferva. Diameter of the body, exclusive of rays, 

 1 -620th to 1 -280th. 



A. dijformis. — Body irregularly lobed, depressed and hyaline; 

 rays variable in length, some longer than the diameter of the 

 body. Diameter without rays, l-570th to l-280tli. 



A. Eichornii. — Body large, white, globose, rays shorter than the 

 diameter of the body ; conical. Size 1-1 00th. Berlin. 



Dujardin gives the following species, in addition to those described 

 by Ehrenberg : — 



A. marina. — Diff'ers fi'om A. Sol, only in its habitat, and in the 

 more marked contractility of its rays. Found amongst micro- 

 scopic marine Algaj in the Mediterranean, and probably but a 

 variety of A. Sol. 



A. digitata. — Body depressed, rays flexible, thickened at the base, 

 and forming, by contraction, short, thick, finger-like processes. 

 Diameter 1 -750th. Found in fresh water containing marsh plants. 



o 2 



