DIGESTION OF ANIMALCULES. 



131 



they are in continual circulation, moving up one 

 side of the body and down the other, and even 

 changing their relative positions, like the coloured 

 granules visible in the gelatinous substance of the 

 hydra. And, thirdly, he affirms that in no instance 

 has he been able to detect a central tube at all, as 

 depicted by Ehrenberg, much less the branches 

 leading from it to the sacs ; and he adds, that the 

 circumstances attending the prehension of food, 

 would, in themselves, lead us to imagine a structure 

 different from that described by Ehrenberg. 



He adduces, by way of confirming his views, the 

 changes of form which these animalcules undergo, 

 when devouring prey nearly equal to themselves in 

 bulk, and therefore incapable of entering into one of 

 these sacs ; the mouth dilates to engulph the victim, 

 and when this is swallowed, the whole body, as in 

 the hydra, becomes greatly distended. As an 



I 



THE FLASK ANIMALCULE. 



example in point, professor Jones figures the flask 

 animalcule* in its ordinary state ; preparing to 



* Enclielis pupa. 



