NOMENCLATURE AND CLASSIFICATIONS. 16/ 



is first mentioned as follows : "4. Bacterium tri/octilare n. g." The second mention 

 of the name is on the fourth page in a list of " Genera et Species, in Europe a me 

 nondum visa." The genus is described on the sixth page as follows: 



Bacterium, Novum Genus, Familia Vibrionioniin. Character Generis : Corpus 

 polygastricum ? anenterum ? nudum, oblongum, fusiforme aut filiforme, rectum, mono- 

 morphum (contractione nunquam dilatatumj, parum flexile (nee aperte undatum), 

 transverse in multas partes sponte dividuum. 



B. triloculare nov. spec. : distincte triloculare s. triarticulatum, subfusiforme, 

 liyalinum. 



Phytozoa Tab. II. Libyca fig. 6. 



Animalculum I//300 lineae longum, corpore tereti. Articuli s. septa interna 

 divisionem instantem multiplicem transversam indicare videntur. Mobile sed pigrum 

 animalculum. 



In Oasi lovis Hammonis Siwae observatum, praeterea nuUibi. 



Bacterii Generis physiologia hucusque obscura. Cibo colorato ventriculos replere 

 hae formae respuunt ideoque ad Polygastrica non nisi dubitanter et interim collocantur. 



Bacterium simplex vide Monas simplex. Bacterium scintillans vide Monas scin- 

 tilla fis. 



In general, Ehrenberg's figures are excellent where he could see anything to 

 draw, but the seven figures of B. triloculare are very small (white on a dark-gra)- 

 background), and one can make nothing out of tliem beyond the fact that they are 

 minute bodies, 3 or 4 times as long as broad and with two indistinct septa. At the 

 foot of the plate their length is .said to be ,ij of a "linie." The figures are more or 

 less rounded at the ends and show no constrictions at the septa. 



In 1830, in his "Beitrage" (see P)ibliog.,V), Ehrenberg has the following on the 

 genus Bactcriutii : 



Phytozoa. Classis I Polygastrica. A. Anentera. Ordo I Nuda. Family I Gymnica. 

 Corpore non ciliato, oreciliato nudove (p. 37). Sectio II. Vibrionia. Elongata.in 

 se nunquam contracta. Sub-section c: Corpore oblongo,fusiformi aut filiformi (tereti 

 aut triquetro nee quadrangulo) aperte undatum non flexili, uec spirali : 



Bacterium, nov. Gen. — Haec genera, Oscillatories valde affinia, ore nutriri 

 nondum vidi. 11 species (p. 38). 



In another place the following species are mentioned, without description, as 

 belonging to this new genus : Bacterium cyli)idric, B. deses, B. EiicJielys^ B. fiiscuiii, 

 B. monas, B. punctiim, B. tcnno, B. treniidans. The number 11 was apparently 

 completed by the three others, />'. triloadare, B. simplex, and B. scintillans, not here 

 mentioned. In this paper Ehrenberg made use of the subsecjuently oft-quoted expres- 

 sion : " Die Milchstrasse der Kleinsten Organization geht durch die Gattungen 

 Monas, Vibrio, Bacterium, Bodo." This idea appears to ha\-e impressed him greatlv, 

 for he repeats it in his "Infusionsthierchen." 



In 1832, in Ehrenberg's "Geographische \'erbreitung," a paper which was read 

 January 10, 1828, and written apparently before either of the preceding, but not 

 printed until 1832, three species oi Bacterium are mentioned, B. simplex, B. trilo- 

 culare, B. scintillans, all as new species, but there is no description of the genus or 

 reference to any description. 



