NUTRITION IN THE INFUSORIA. 



85 



in the Lencophra palula* the appearance of wliich 

 under the microscope is shown in Fig. 255, he 



traced a long alimentary canal, traversing the 

 greater part of the body, taking several spiral turns, 

 and furnished with a great number of cceca ; a term 

 which denotes blind pouches, proceeding laterally 

 from any internal canal, and having no other outlet. 

 He stated that these cavities became filled with 

 coloured particles immediately after their entrance 

 into the alimentary canal ; and drew the inference 

 that they are so many stomachs provided for the 

 digestion of the food thus received : hence he gave 

 them the general name of Poly gastric Infusoria.^ 

 But he found that they are not all filled at the same 

 time ; for some continued long in a contracted state, 

 so as not to be visible ; while, at another time, they 

 readily admitted the coloured food. It was only by 

 dint of patient watching that he made out the 

 whole extent of the alimentary tube, and its appa- 

 ratus of stomachs. Fig. 255, above referred to, 



* Trichoda patula. MuUer. 



f From two Greek words, signifying many stomachs. 



