PORTER: TRICHONYMPHA. 49 
of the posterior end of the body (Figs. 1, 2) vibrated but little, while 
the very long cilia that enveloped the posterior half of the animal and 
reached out far behind (Figs. 1, 2) appeared to be absolutely motionless. 
These last are not quite useless, however, for 1 noticed that milk cor- 
puscles began to be entangled among them, and soon afterward long 
trains of globules were being dragged behind each animal (Figs. 6 
and 4). At first I thought this was merely accidental, but after longer 
observation I came to the conclusion that the cilia actually enfold 
the globules, for these are gradually drawn in towards the animal, and 
finally come to lie in close contact with the posterior part of its body 
(Figs. 4, 5). That the cilia are prehensile in their nature has already 
been observed by Kent, for he says: “ When placed in diluted milk, the 
animalcules of both the American and Tasmanian species of Tricho- 
nympha have been observed by me to assume a fixed condition that has 
not hitherto been described. An attachment to the surface of organic 
substances or other convenient fulcra is then accomplished through the 
medium of the long fascicle of hair-like cilia that are produced from their 
posterior extremity. These cilia, intersecting one another at a short 
distance from the body, form a sort of hollow cone, the expanded base of 
which grasps the selected fulerum of support after the manner of an 
acetabulum, This habit of, as it were, anchoring themselves by their 
long caudal cilia was observed in both the adult and the immature 
animalcules.” 
I have observed that Trichonympha may attach itself even to the 
cover glass by means of its cilia. This evident habit of grasping things 
by means of the caudal cilia suggested the idea that these cilia might 
perhaps have the function not only of attaching the animal to the host, 
but also of procuring food ; however, I must acknowledge that it appeared 
highly improbable that these seemingly motionless cilia, which clothe 
and tightly invest the animal, could have a function which ordinarily 
requires so much activity ; furthermore, I had been unable thus far to find 
wny mouth opening. Kent in his article says (p. 271): “An important 
point that was left undetermined by Dr. Leidy respecting the structure 
of Trichonympha relates to the preciso position of the oral aperture, 
The bodies of the animalcules are almost invariably filled with fragments 
of the woody débris devoured by their hosts, the White Ants, which shows 
that their sustenance is taken into their body in a solid state, and is 
not simply absorbed in the fluid form, as occurs with the group of the 
Opalinideo, A prolonged observation of living examples of thé American 
species remitted me by Dr. Leidy, and likewise of the Tasmanian type 
