Closterina.] THE INFUSORIA. 143 



kingdom, I have had a translation made of the remarks 

 of Dr. Meyen on this interesting subject, which will be 

 found prefaced to the latter family, and reserve to 

 myself the opportunity of discussing the subject more 

 fully there. 



It should be borne in mind, however, that in treating 

 of this matter, the descriptive characters of them, and the 

 illustrative drawings, will not be in the least reduced in 

 value or interest, whether they are considered as forming a 

 portion of the animal or vegetable creation. To the 

 microscopist the members of this family possess much 

 interest, arising from the circulation of the particles within, 

 near the ends of the shell, and also along the sides. For 

 these observations an amplifying power of 400 diameters, 

 at least, is required ; but even a single lens of that power 

 will shew it. 



Ehrenberg gives the following reasons for placing the 

 Closterina in the animal part of the creation : First, they 

 exert a voluntary motion, as shewn first by Corti. 

 Secondly, they have apertures at their extremities, as 

 noticed by himself. Thirdly, they have projecting organs 

 near these apertures, perpetually in motion. Fourthly, 

 they increase and multiply by a transverse self- division, 

 as observed by M tiller. These four endowments Ehrenberg 

 considers as being abundantly sufficient to determine the 

 real nature of the Closterina, inasmuch as, wherever 

 voluntary motion, an aperture or mouth (feet), and spon- 

 taneous division exist, you may conclude at once, without 

 waiting to see the creature eat, that the supposed plant is 

 indeed an animal. 



Since the above was written, some interesting obser- 



