598 DESCRIPTION OF \Tolygastrica. 



Family. — EUPLOTA 



Have a lorica and alimentary canal, with two separate orifices, 

 neither of which are terminal. They possess powerful organs of 

 locomotion, similar to those of the preceding family. 



This family resembles in many respects the genus Asellus of the 

 Entomostraca, whose organization is so highly developed : hence 

 this family very properly closes the grand division Polygastrica. 

 Organs subservient to nutrition are distinctly seen in three genera — 

 one is marked by having a cylinder of wand-like teeth, and a 

 beautiful rose-coloured digestive juice, like the genus Nassula. 

 The propagative apparatus is double in three genera, ova granules 

 are found in two, male glands in two, a contractile vesicle in three ; 

 self-division, transverse and longitudinal, is observed in one, but 

 gemmae are not produced. One form is green, the others are 

 colourless and whitish. 



This family comprises the following genera : — 



teeth absent J 



head distinguished from the body Discocephalus. 



■nrifii mHo nn 1 teem aosent j 



St les~ ■{ ^ '"'^'^ '^°^ distinguished from the body . . . Himantophorus. 



[_teeth present Chlamidodon. 



With cUia, claws, and styles Euplotes. 



This family Euplota in part corresponds with that of the 

 Ploesconiens of Dujardin, which includes animalcules of an oval or 

 reniform depressed figure, not contractile, and only slightly flexible, 

 but invested with an apparent shield (lorica), which, however, un- 

 dergoes difiluence like the softer parts. Mouth furnished with 

 vibratile cilia, and often also with cirrhi, in the form of styles or 

 moveable hooks. They swim by means of the vibratile cilia, or 

 crawl by the aid of the other appendages. 



The Ploesconiens form five genera: — Plcesconia and Chlamidodon, 

 with a visible mouth, the latter also having teeth ; Diophtys and 

 Coccudina, without visible mouth ; the cirrhi or processes in the 

 former, grouped at the two ends, in the latter covering the under 

 surface. Loxodes has only vibratile cilia. 



