14 MARINE INFUSORIA. 



at Falmouth, proboscidiform zooids were alone encountered, and the 

 illustration of the vermiform zooid here given is reproduced from 

 Mr. Hiucks's figures. In two other species of this remarkable genus, 

 obtained and examined by myself in the Channel Islands, O. f^ertiilnrio', 

 St. W., and 0. multicapitatum, S. K., both proboscidifonn and vermifomi 

 zooids occurred in abundance, and ai'e temporarily united in the same 

 animalcale. The last-named type, Ophriiodendron multicapitatum, u. sp.,i3 

 especially noteworthy, inasmuch as a single zooid may possess as many 

 as three or even four proboscidiform appendages.* Although the 

 various species of OphnjodentJron are usually assigned to the section of 

 the Tentaculifera, the singular proboscis-like organs being presumed to 

 represent a modification of the tentacula of the ordinary Acinetse, 

 the true significance and morphological position of these very remarkable 

 beings has yet to be elucidated. So far as speculation is assisted by the 

 facts of embryological development, the evidence is certainly in favour of 

 their Acinete affinities, the internally produced embryos in the case of 

 Ophrj/odendron nhictinum being sho^vn by Claperde and Lachmann to 

 accord essentially with those of many normal representatives of the 

 genera Acincta and Podophrya, and to exhibit in common with the same 

 an Hypotrichous plan of cihation. 



* A delineatinn of this remarkable species is added for the purpose of 

 comparison. See Plate IV., Figs. 15 and 16. 



