INFUSORIAL ANIMALCULES. 147 



into two perfect and separate beings, to proceed again in the career of 

 its original. They seem to have the power of changing their shapes 

 at will ; at one time they have a rolling-pin form, at another that of a 

 fish without a tail, and are also seen with their bodies extended at the 

 side like wings. This family corresponds to the Englenia of Dujardin; 

 but they are still very imperfectly known. Astasla are distinguished 

 from Amoeba by the absence of the irregular foot-like process sent out 

 by the latter from all parts of the body. 



Enchelia, Flask Animalcule (fig. 95, No. 2). These are described 

 by Miiller as simple invisible animalcules of a cylindrical form. On 

 the surface of the waters of ponds and ditches is often seen a 

 kind of green scum, from which people are accustomed to turn with 

 disgust, and ascribe to it some injurious property. When this is 

 brought under the powers of the microscope, the water is seen to be 

 pure and clean, and the green found to consist of innumerable slender 

 . cylindrical- formed animalcules, whose stomachs, or interiors, impart 

 the colour from being distended with vegetable matter. The wise and 

 loving decrees of Providence are here exemplified, as, by the innate 

 wants of this growing and living speck, varying in size from 1-1 200th 

 to 1 -400th of an inch, the decaying and putrefying matter is removed, 

 and the noxious effects on man and beast prevented. Others, of the 

 same species of these industrious and useful mites in the animal eco- 

 nomy of nature, with their little active ruby-coloured eye, whose masses 

 alone render them visible to the human eye as a coloured substance, 

 exhibit much variety in form and habit. 



ACINETIN^EA. 



The Acineta of Ehreriberg. Actinoplirys Sol, " sun-animalcule," 

 abounds in pools, where Desmidiacece are founji, in many parts of Dorset- 

 shire ; they are ravenous feeders, not only upon the Desmidiacece, but also 

 upon all kinds of minute spores and animalcules. It was on examining 

 some beautiful Desmidiacece that my attention was arrested by the curious 

 appearance of two or three very small Actinophrys floating very lightly 

 upon the surface of the water in the form of a ball, with their delicate 

 tentacular filaments perfectly erect all over their bodies; in fact, they 

 seemed to be floating upon these delicate filaments. The creature also 

 seems to be capable of altering its entire form to a certain extent, and 

 to be able to expand and again contract itself in toto. Stein's researches 

 render the existence of this species doubtful, by showing that similar 

 forms are but the intermediate stages of development of vorticella. 



