IJydatinaea.'] ixrrsoiUAL wiM.vLcrLES. C35 



They live upon other llotntoria, upon the Polygastric Infusoria, and 

 even within the globular masses of Volvox ylohator; "but," says 

 Ehrenbcrg, "not like a cuckoo's egg in a hedge-sparrow's nest, but 

 like the bear and the bee-hive, or a bird's nest in a wasp's nest." 



Dujardin has the following criticisms on this genus Notommata : — 



" Five of the species appear to be Hydatina: nine others, more or 

 less distinct, are, in our opinion, Furcularia ; three others Plagiog- 

 nathi, some are imperfectly known, and only six at most offer 

 sufficiently precise chai-acters to retain the name Notommata. Such 

 are — 1. IS". Copeus. 2. l^.centrura. 3. 'N . hrachyota. 4. 'E.collaris. 

 •5. N. aurita, and — 6. ^N". ansata. To these species must be added a 

 seventh, called by Ehrenbei-g Cycloglena Itipus . . . and an eighth, which 

 we distinguish as Xotommata vermicularis. 



{a. ) Suh-genus Labidodon. — One tooth in each jaio. 



NoTOMJiATA myrmeleo. — Body large, bell-shaped ; foot short, lateral > 

 teeth curved in a circulai' forcej)S-like manner. (See fig. 420.) There are 

 two varieties : in the one (-s'ar. «), a long thin oesophagus, a globular 

 thick stomach, and a long rectum, constitute the alimentary organs. 

 Ehrcuberg, by pressure, made an animalcule, whose dai'k stomach 

 nearly filled the body, disgorge two large specimens of Lynceus 

 minutus (described and figured in the Microscopic Cabinet) ; the ani- 

 malcule afterwards "sibratcd away in a lively manner. No respii'atoiy 

 tubes exist, but five transverse vessels and four longitudinal ones (a 

 pail" uniting to each of the fii'st two transverse ones,) represent a 

 vascular system in this variety. In the other (var. I.) a distinct 

 vascidar net- work is seen at the head, but only four transverse ves- 

 sels, and two longitudinal ones going to the fii'st. The red eye is 

 much larger in this variety. Fig. 418 represents a side view of the 

 vai'iety h., in which the various parts of its organization are clearly 

 seen, as also a small Crustacean, within its stomach. Fig. 420 shews 

 the structure of the manducatory organs separated. Fig. 419 is the 

 upper part of an animalcule (var. a), shewing the smaller eye, rota- 

 tory organs, teeth, and network. Found in clear water, in turf 

 hollows. Length l-40th. 



!N. syrinx. — Body large, bell-shaped ; lateral foot scarcely visible ; 

 teeth curved and bifid at the points. This species is very similar to 

 the former, and only distinguished from it by its small foot and the 



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