Oxytrichina.'] infusokial animalcules. 591 



diens,' and is thus defined : animal with a fusiform body, much 

 elongated anteriorly, like a long neck, with a mouth seated at the 

 base of the prolongation; vibratile cilia cover the surface, and are 

 of larger size in front and near the mouth. 



Ehrenberg has arranged the Dileptus with the Paramecibns, 

 although, unlike the latter, destitute of a contractile reticulated 

 integument. 



The type of this genus Dileptus is the Amphileptus anser of 

 Ehrenberg ; and the A. Margaritifer (Ehr.) is referable also to it. 



A new animalcule is thus described, under the name of Dileptus 

 folium : body very flexible, lanceolate, contracted in front, with 

 nodular reticulated and irregular stripes, hke the veins of a leaf. 

 Length 1-1 75th to 1-1 30th. Found in river water. (P. 21, fig. 26.) 



Genus Loxophyllum (Duj.) — Body very depressed, lamellar, 

 oblique, very flexible, and sinuous, or undulated along the borders ; 

 mouth lateral ; cilia in wide parallel rows. 



M. Ehrenberg has comprehended Loxophyllum with Amphileptus. 

 Loxophyllum melemjris, the type of the genus, is the Amjihileptus 

 meleagris (Ehr.) (P. 21, fig. 32.) 



The Trachelius meleagris (Ehr.) it is probable also represents 

 another Loxophyllum, as also the Kolpoda ochrea of Midler, which 

 Ehrenberg represents as agi*eeing with his Amphileptus longi- 

 collis. 



Family.— OXYTRICHINA. 



This family contains all polj^gastvic animalcules which possess an 

 alimentary canal with tv»'o separate orifices, neither of them situated 

 at the extremities, without lorica, but provided with setse, vibratile 

 cilia, and non-vibratile styles or uncini. These locomotive organs 

 are variously situated, and render the creature active. The poly- 

 gastric cells, disposed upon an alimentary tube, have been demon- 

 strated by Ehrenberg, and in Ceratidium only are indistinct. The 

 mouth and discharging orifice, ova-like granules (at certain periods), 

 and male organs (glands and vesicles), are each seen in four genera. 

 Complete transverse and longitudinal self-division is observed in 



