430 Prof. H. James-Clark on the Structure and 



t rations and descriptions, because there are yet among zoologists 

 those who suppose that there is so little in the organization of 

 Protozoa that no tangible characters can be found by which 

 they may be typified or assimilated in a group by themselves. 



The taxonomic relations of the organs of the Infusoria fla- 

 GELLATA have received so little attention from investigators, that 

 there is no small difficulty, with our present knowledge of them, 

 in tracing the typical plan which is so eminently exemplified 

 among the ciliata. I hope I shall be pardoned, therefore, if I 

 attempt to give a strict topographical view of the positions of 

 the various organs of one among the most lowly of the whole 

 group of animalcules. 



A considerable portion of the second volume of the great 

 work of Messrs. Claparede and Lachmann, ' Etudes sur les Infu- 

 soires,' &c., is occupied by a discussion of the animality of cer- 

 tain doubtful forms of Monad-like Infusoria. The tests which 

 these authors offer as determinatives of the zoological relations 

 of the forms in question are, the possession by them of a con- 

 tractile vesicle, and the introception of food. By means of either 

 the one or the other of these criteria they succeed in satisfying 

 themselves that the Volvocina, Astasice [Euglena included), and 

 the Dinobrya are true animals ; but in regard to other forms 

 they are unable to decide. Among those which are left in the 

 latter category, there is a singular infusorian which, as is usually 

 supposed, was originally named Epistylis vegetans by Ehrenberg, 

 and Anthophysa Mulleri by Bory de St. Vincent. Dujardin gives 

 a scarcely recognizable figure of it in the atlas of his work on 

 Infusoria, but very properly places it among the monadiform 

 animalcules. This is done, however, upon its general resem- 

 blance to the latter (alike undetermined at that date as to their 

 animal nature), and not because he had by direct observation 

 decided it to be a genuine animal. The figures of Cohn (' Mikro- 

 skopische Algen und Pilze,^ Nov. Acta Acad. Caes. Leop. 1854, 

 taf. XV. figs. 1-8) are not much better than those of Dujardin. 



Habitat and general appearance. — I have been so fortunate as 

 to determine the animality of Anthophysa by both of the tests 

 above mentioned; and there rests not the least doubt in my 

 mind that this infusorian is as truly a member of the zoological 

 kingdom as any of the well-known Protozoa. I would state, 

 for the information of those who are not acquainted with the 

 habits of this animalcule, that it is quite common among the 

 freshwater weeds. It may be most advantageously studied 

 when it is attached to Myriophyllum or Ceratophyllum — a small 

 piece of the tip of the filiform leaf of either (which seems to be 

 covered by an irregular floccose deposit) usually affording abun- 

 dant specimens. 



