8 VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. [LESSON 3. 



42. Every thing remaining still and quiet, they re-fill their 

 bodies with water, the vibratile organs again appear, motion is re- 

 sumed, and off they go. 



43. During the time they remain passive, which often occurs, 

 they can be examined with great ease ; it will then appear that their 

 body contains a variable number of distinct globular particles, to 

 which Ehrenberg ascribes the function of gastric cavities or 

 stomachs. 



44. According to the same authority, many of these creatures 

 possess not less than three hundred of these cells, or stomachs. 



45. Now, the probability is, judging especially from the analogy 

 furnished by the vegetable kingdom, that these spots are only nuclei, 

 or immature germ spots, waiting the period for their full develop- 

 ment, and the mode by which these creatures propagate, appears to 

 confirm this opinion. 



46. The Enchelis pupa, a beautiful flask-shaped animalcule, is 

 one of those animals that should greatly assist our inquiries. When 

 fully extended, and active, the creature presents a row of vibratile 

 cilia (a Fig. 3), surrounding the oral (mouth) aperture (5), whilst the 

 spots, or nutrimental sacs of Ehrenberg, are referred to at c. 



FIG. 3. FIG. 4. FIG. 5. 



Enchelis pupa. Enchelis showing constriction. The same, further advanced. . 



If a specimen be followed by the stage adjustments of the mi- 

 croscope, a slight notch or constriction will appear (Fig. 4, a) sur- 

 rounding its body as if a fine thread were tied around it. 



47. This constriction will rapidly increase (Fig. 5), and by 

 this time a series of vibratile organs will be developed at the 

 other extremity of the body. The incessant vibration of the cilia 

 causes a vortex in the water, by means of which particles of matter, 

 as well smaller animalcules, as extraneous substances, are driven to 

 the creature's mouth : if proper food, it is immediately swallowed ; 

 but if it consist of deleterious matter, the mouth is instantly closed, 



