Part 39

It appears plainly from the foregoing experiments, that when the blighted grains of wheat have been kept a long time, and the bodies of these animalcula are consequently become extremely dry, the rigidity of their minute vessels requires to be relaxed very gently, and by exceeding slow degrees; for we find that, on the application of water immediately to the bodies of these animalcula, when taken from the dry grains, they do not so certainly revive, as they do if the grains themselves be either buried in earth, or steeped in water for some time before they are taken out: the reason of which most probably is, that too sudden a relaxation bursts their delicate and tender organs, and thereby renders them incapable of being any more employed to perform the actions of life; and, indeed, there are always some dead ones amongst the living, whose bodies appear bursten, or lacerated, as well as others that lie extended and never come to life.

Some discretion is needful to adapt the time of continuing the grains in water or earth to the age and dryness of them; for if they be not opened before they have been too much or too long softened, the animalculum will not only seem dead, but will really be so. Of the two grains mentioned to have been four years old when put to soak, one was opened after it had lain thirty-six hours, and the event proved as already related; the other was suffered to lie for above a week, on opening which, all the anguillulæ near the husk were found dead, and seemingly in a decayed condition; but great numbers issued alive from the middle, and moved themselves briskly. Unless the husks be opened to let these creatures out after being steeped, they all inevitably perish; and when taken out and preserved in water, if the husks be left with them, they will die in a few days; but otherwise, continue alive in water for several months together; and, should the water evaporate, may be revived again by giving them a fresh supply.

72. VIBRIO LINTER. V. ventricoso-ovatus, collo brevissimo. Ventricose oval vibrio, with a short neck.

This is one of the larger animalcula, of an egg-shape, pellucid, inflated, somewhat depressed at top; the apex is prolonged into a moveable crystalline neck, the belly is replete with pellucid molecules. It is not very common, though occasionally to be found among the lemnæ.

73. VIBRIO UTRICULUS. V. teres, antice angustatus truncatus, postice ventricosus. Round vibrio, the fore-part narrow and truncated, the lower ventricose.

It does not ill resemble a bottle in shape; the belly is replete with molecular intestines, the neck bright and clear, the top truncated; in some a pellucid point is visible at the bottom of the belly. It is in an unceasing, vehement, and vacillatory motion, the neck moving from one side to the other as fast as possible.

74. VIBRIO FASCIOLA. V. antice attenuatus, medio latiusculus, postice acutus. Vibrio with a small fore-part, the middle a little bigger, the hind-part acute.

This is a pellucid animalculum, in the middle are the intestines in the form of points; an alimentary pipe, which lessens gradually in size, is also perceptible. The motion of it is quick, darting itself up and down in the water with great velocity. It is found in water just loosened from the frost, and seldom elsewhere.

75. VIBRIO COLYMBUS. V. crassus, postice acuminatus, collo subfalcato. Thick vibrio, sharpened at the end, the neck a little bent.

It is larger than most of the vibrios, and not unlike a bird in shape. The neck is round, shorter than the trunk, of an equal size throughout, and of a bright appearance, the apex obtuse. The trunk is thick, somewhat triangular, full of yellow molecules; the fore-part broad, the hinder-part acute, the motion slow.

76. VIBRIO STRICTUS. V. elongatus linearis, anticem versus attenuatus, apice obtuso. Vibrio lengthened out almost to a line, small towards the fore-part, the apex obtuse.

The body linear, being a bright membranaceous thread, without any flexure; the hind-part somewhat thicker, round, and filled with molecules, excepting just at the end, where there is a small pellucid empty space. The apex is obtuse, and rather globose; it has a power of contracting and drawing in the filiform part.

77. VIBRIO ANAS. V. oblongus, utroque fine attenuatus, collo cauda longiore. Oblong vibrio, both ends attenuated, the neck longer than the tail.

The trunk is oblong, opake, and filled with molecules. Both the fore and the hind-part is prolonged into a pellucid talky membrane, which the animalculum has a power of retracting at pleasure. The tail is more acute than the neck. It is most generally found in salt water; a species of them have been found in river water, with a longer neck.

78. VIBRIO CYGNUS. V. ventricosus, collo adunco. Corpulent vibrio, with a crooked neck.

This animalculum is little more than a most pellucid line, crooked at top, prominent in the middle, and sharp at the end; the fore-part, or neck, is equal in length to the rest of the body, and three times longer than the hind-part or tail; the intermediate part swelling out, is full of dark-coloured molecules and pellucid intestines. It is very small, and the most slothful of all those which move and advance their necks.

79. VIBRIO ANSER. V. ellipticus, collo longo, tuberculo dorsali. Plate XXV. Fig. 27 and 29. Elliptical vibrio, with a long neck, and a little lump on the back.

It is between the vibrio proteus and vibrio falx, and is distinguished by the lump _b_, Fig. 29, on the back, placed behind the neck; from this an even long neck, _a_, proceeds. The trunk, _d_, is elliptic, round, and without any lateral inequality; full of molecules, the hind-part, _e_, sharp and bright, the fore-part produced into a bending neck that is longer than the body; the apex even and whole, with blue canals passing between the marginal edges, occupying the whole length of the neck; in one of them a vehement descent of water to the beginning of the trunk is perceivable. The motion of the body is slow, that of the neck is more lively and flexuous, sometimes spiral. It is found in water where duck-weed grows.

80. VIBRIO OLOR. V. ellipticus, collo longissimo, apice nodoso. Plate XXV. Fig. 28. Elliptical, with a very long neck, and a knob on the apex.

The form of the body is elliptical and ventricose, the hind-part somewhat sharp. It is membranaceous, dilatable, winding variously; the hind-part is sometimes replete with darkish molecules. The neck, _d_, is three or four times longer than the body, of an equal size throughout, except a small degree of thickness at the apex, _f_, very pellucid. The motion of its neck is very lively, that of the body slow. It is found in water that has been kept for a long time, and which has acquired a vegetable greenness.

81. VIBRIO FALX. V. gibbosus, postice obtusus, collo falcato. A gibbous vibrio, the hind-part obtuse, the neck crooked.

The body is pellucid, elliptical, the fore-part lessening into a little round bright neck, nearly of the same length as the trunk, the hind-part obtuse. The trunk itself is rather rounding or tending to the gibbous, and filled with very small molecules; there are also two bright globules, one within the hind extremity, the other in the middle of the body. The neck being immoveable, the motions of the animalculum somewhat resemble those of a scythe.

82. VIBRIO INTERMEDIUS. V. membranaceus, antice attenuatus, postice subacutus. Membranaceous vibrio, the fore-part small, the hinder part somewhat acute.

It seems to be an intermediate species between the preceding vibrio and the fasciola, No. 74; it is a thin membrane, constantly folded. The whole of it has a crystalline talky appearance, the middle replete with grey particles of different sizes; it has all round a distinct bright margin; the apex of the neck is truncated, the tail obtuse.

VI. CYCLIDIUM.

Vermis inconspicuus, simplicissimus, pellucidus, complanatus, orbicularis vel ovatus. A simple, invisible, flat, pellucid, orbicular or oval worm.

83. CYCLIDIUM BULLA. C. orbiculare hyalinum. Orbicular bright cyclidium.

A very pellucid white animalculum, or orbicular skin, the edges a little darker than the rest. By the assistance of the compound microscope, some globular intestines of a very crystalline appearance are just perceptible. Its motion is slow and semicircular. It is found occasionally in an infusion of hay.

84. CYCLIDIUM MILIUM. C. ellipticum crystallinum. Elliptic and crystalline cyclidium.

It is very pellucid, of a crystalline splendour, membranaceous and elliptical; a line may be perceived through the whole length of it, a point in the fore-part, the hinder-part getting darker. Its motion is swift, fluttering, and interrupted; probably both extremities are ciliated.

85. CYCLIDIUM FLUITANS. C. ovale crystallinum. Oval crystalline cyclidium.

This is one of the smallest animalcula. The body of an oval, or rather suborbicular shape, depressed, crystalline; two small blue spaces may be discovered by the assistance of the microscope at the sides of this little creature.

86. CYCLIDIUM GLAUCOMA. C. ovatum, interaneis ægre conspicuis. Oval cyclidium, the intestines perceived with difficulty.

A pellucid oval body, with both ends plain, or an oval membrane, with a distinct well-defined edge; the intestines are so transparent that they can scarce be discerned, when it is empty; when full, they are of a green colour, and there are dark globules discoverable in the middle.

In plenty of water it moves swiftly in a circular and diagonal direction; whenever it moves slowly it seems to be taking in water, the intestines are then also in a violent commotion. Two of the smaller ones may often be perceived cohering to each other, and drawing one another by turns; nor are they separated by death, for they remain united even when the water is evaporated. Those who are not familiar with these kinds of observations, may easily mistake the shade in a single one for a junction of two, or the junction of two for a copulation, for they generate by division.

87. CYCLIDIUM NIGRICANS. C. oblongiusculum, margine nigricans. Oblong cyclidium, with a black margin.

It is very small, pellucid, and flat. With a small magnifier, it may be mistaken for an enchelis.

88. CYCLIDIUM ROSTRATIUM. C. ovale, antice mucronatum. An oval cyclidium, the fore-part pointed.

This is an oval, smooth, and very pellucid animalculum, with the fore-part running out into an obtuse point; with this it seems to feel and examine the bodies which it approaches. It is probably ciliated, though the hairs have not been discovered.

The intestines are filled with a blue liquor, forming in a tube, which, from the aperture to the middle of the body, is divided into two legs or branches; beyond the middle there are two little transverse blue lines. This colour sometimes vanishes, and then they seem to be composed of vesicles.

89. CYCLIDIUM NUCLEUS. C. ovale, postice acuminatum. An oval cyclidium, the hind-part pointed.

The body is pellucid, depressed, the fore-part obtusely convex, the hind-part acute, the intestines vesicular, the fore and hind-part on each side dark. It resembles a grape-seed.

90. CYCLIDIUM HYALINUM. C. ovatum, postice acutum. Oval cyclidium, the hind-part acute.

This cyclidium is oval, flat, and bright, without any visible intestines, the hinder-part somewhat smaller than the fore-part; it has a tremulous kind of motion.

91. CYCLIDIUM PEDICULUS. C. ovale convexum, subtus planum. An oval convex cyclidium, the bottom even. Trembley Polyp. 1, p. 282.

This is a gelatinous white animalculum, the bottom gibbous over the back, the extremities depressed and truncated, with one end sometimes apparently cloven into two; perhaps this is the aperture of the mouth. It is scarce ever seen but on the arms and the body of the hydra pallida, upon which it runs as if it had feet.

92. CYCLIDIUM DUBIUM. C. ovale, supra convexum, subtus cavum. Oval cyclidium, the upper part convex, the under part concave.

This is one of the larger species, the margin is pellucid, and the inner part contains a great number of black molecules.

VII. PARAMÆCIUM.

Vermis inconspicuus, simplex, pellucidus, membranaceus, oblongus. An invisible, simple, membranaceous, flat, and pellucid worm.

93. PARAMÆCIUM AURELIA. VOLVOX TEREBELLA. ELLIS. P. compressum, versus anticem plicatum, postice acutum. Compressed paramæcium, oblong, folded towards the fore-part, the hinder-part acute.

This is rather a large animalculum, membranaceous, pellucid, and four times longer than it is broad; the fore-part obtuse, transparent, without intestines; the hind-part replete with molecules of various sizes; the fold, which goes from the middle to the apex is a striking characteristic of the species, forming a kind of triangular aperture, and giving it somewhat the appearance of a gimblet. Its motion is rectilinear, reeling or staggering, and generally vehement.

They are frequently found cohering lengthwise; the lateral edges of both bodies appear bright. They may also sometimes be seen lying on one another alternately, at others, adhering by the middle. They will live many months in the same water without its being renewed. They are to be found in June in ditches where there is plenty of duck-weed.

94. PARAMÆCIUM CHRYSALIS. P. cylindraceum, versus anticam plicatum, postice obtusum. Plate XXV. Fig. 26. Cylindrical paramæcium, folded towards the fore-part, the hinder-part obtuse.

It differs very little from the preceding, only the ends, _a b_, are more obtuse, and the margins filled with black globules. It is an inhabitant of salt water.

95. PARAMÆCIUM VERSUTUM. P. cylindraceum, postice incrassatum, utraque extremitate obtusum. Cylindrical paramæcium, the lower part thick, and both ends very obtuse.

An oblong, green, and gelatinous body, filled with molecules; the lower-part thick, the fore-part smaller, both ends obtuse, and may be seen to propagate by division. It is found in ditches.

96. PARAMÆCIUM OVIFERUM. P. depressum, intus bullis ovalibus. Plate XXV. Fig. 25. Depressed paramæcium, with large oval molecules withinside.

A membranaceous, oval, oblong animalculum, grey and pellucid, having many oval very pellucid corpuscles, _a_, dispersed about the body, and many black grains towards _b_.

97. PARAMÆCIUM MARGINATUM. P. depressum, griseum, margine duplici. Plate XXV. Fig. 24. Depressed paramæcium, grey, with a double margin.

This is one of the largest of the class, flat, elliptical, every part filled with molecules, except in the lower end, _b_, where there is a pellucid vesicle; this animalculum is surrounded by a broad double margin; when expiring, a bright spiral intestine is observable. _a_, the apex; _b_, the vesicle; _c_, the spiral intestine.

VIII. KOLPODA.

Vermis inconspicuus, simplicissimus, pellucidus, complanatus, sinuatus. An invisible, very simple, pellucid, flat and crooked worm.

98. KOLPODA LAMELLA. K. elongata, membranacea, antice curvata.

This animalculum resembles a long, narrow, and pellucid membrane, the hind-part obtuse, narrower, and curved towards the top; no intestines discoverable, only a ridge or fold going through the middle. Its motion is reeling or staggering, and very singular, moving to and fro on its edge, not on the flat side, as is usual with most microscopic animals. It is found in water, but is very seldom to be met with.

99. KOLPODA GALLINULA. K. oblonga, dorso antico membranaceo hyalino. Oblong kolpoda, the back towards the fore-part bright and membranaceous.

The apex rather bent; the belly oval, convex and striated. It is found in fetid salt water.

100. KOLPODA ROSTRUM. K. oblonga, antice uncinata. Oblong, the fore-part hooked.

The fore-part is bent into a kind of hook; the hind-part is obtuse, and everywhere filled with black molecules. One of the edges from the fore-part to the middle, is often so blunted and dilated, that the rest of the body appears quite smooth, and that part thick and triangular. It has a slow and horizontal motion. It is to be found, though but seldom, in water where the lemnæ grow.

101. KOLPODA OCHREA. K. elongata, membranacea, apice attenuato, basi in angulum rectum producta. Long kolpoda, membranaceous, the apex attenuated, the base bent in a right angle to the body.

A large animalculum, long, and of a singular figure, depressed, membranaceous, flexible; one edge nearly straight, the other somewhat bent, filled with obscure molecules, and a few little bladders dispersed here and there; the apex bright and small, the base projecting like the human foot from the leg.

102. KOLPODA MUCRONATA. K. membranacea dilatata, antice angustata, altero margine incisa. Membranaceous, dilated kolpoda, the fore-part smaller than the hind-part, with a small incision at one side.

This animalculum is a dilated bright membrane; the apex an obtuse point, with a broad marked border running entirely round it; within the margin it is filled with grey molecules, a fleshy disc on one side, which terminates in a splendid little point on the other side the disc. It has a truncated appearance.

103. KOLPODA TRIQUETRA. K. obovata depressa, altero margine retuso. Kolpoda nearly of an egg-shape, one edge turned back.

This animalculum appears to consist of two membranes; the upper side flattened, the lower convex; the apex is bent so as to form a kind of shoulder. It was found in salt water.

104. KOLPODA STRIATA. K. oblonga, subarcuata depressa, candida, antice acuminata, postice rotundata. Oblong, somewhat of a pear-shape, white, the fore-part pointed, the hind-part round.

It is very pellucid and white, the upper part rather bent, and terminating in a point, the lower part obtusely round; at the apex or mouth there is a little black pellucid vesicle; when a very great magnifying power is used, the body appears covered with long streaks; the lower extremity is furnished, like many other animalcula, with very small globules. It is to be found in salt water.

105. KOLPODA NUCLEUS. K. ovata, vertice acuto. Egg-shaped kolpoda, with an acute vertex.

It is of an oval shape, the vertex pointed, of a brilliant transparency, which renders the viscera visible; they consist of a number of round diaphanous vesicles.

106. KOLPODA MELEAGRIS. K. mutabilis, antice uncinata, postice complicata. Plate XXV. Fig. 22. Changeable, with the fore-part like a hook, the hind-part folded up.

A most singular animalculum of the larger species; it has a dilated membrane, with the finest folds, which it varies and bends in a moment; the fore-part of the body to the middle is clear and bright, the hind-part variously folded in transverse elevated plaits, and full of molecules; the apex turned into a hook, the margin sinuous, and beneath the apex denticulated with three or four teeth; but in some which are more beautifully wrought, the edge is obtusely notched, and set with still smaller notches; in the hind-part there are twelve or more equal pellucid globules. It moves sometimes in a straight, at other times in a crooked line, _a_, the hooked apex; _b_, the denticulated margin; _c_, the series of globules; _d_, the folded part at bottom.

107. KOLPODA ASSIMILIS. K. depressa, non plicatilis apice uncinato, margine antico ad medium, usque crenulato postice, dilatato acutiusculo. Depressed kolpoda, the apex turned in the form of a small hook; the margin of the fore-part notched from the top to the middle, the lower part swells out, then diminishes again into a short point. It has an elliptic mass in the middle, but is never folded like the preceding. It was found on the sea coast.

108. KOLPODA CUCULLUS. K. ovata, ventricosa, infra apicem incisa. Plate XXV. Fig. 23. Egg-shaped, ventricose, with an incision in the fore-part.

It is very pellucid, with a well-defined margin, filled with little bright vesicles, differing in size, and of no certain number. Its figure is commonly oval, the top bent into a kind of beak, seldom an acute one, sometimes oblong, but most usually obtuse. Its intestines are formed of from eight to twenty-four bright little vesicles, not conspicuous in such as are young. Some have supposed these to be animalcula which the kolpoda had swallowed, but Müller is of opinion that they are its offspring. In some only one crystalline vesicle occupies the middle of the body. It moves in general with great vivacity, and in all directions. When this creature is near death in consequence of the evaporation of the water, it protrudes its offspring with violence. It is found in infusions of vegetables, and in fetid hay. In some few a transparent membranaceous substance may be perceived projecting beyond the beak, and resembling an exuvia; the same may also be observed in the enchelis and vibrio: it is, therefore, possible that these animalcula cast their skin, as is the case with many of the class of insects. _a_ shews the cap or hood, _b_ the incision.

109. KOLPODA CUCULLULUS. K. oblonga, infra apicem oblique incisa. Oblong kolpoda, with an oblique incision a little below the apex.

A very pellucid crystalline animalculum; it is furnished with several pellucid globules; there is a bending a little beneath the top, which in some positions is very distinctly seen, in others not. It was observed in an infusion of the sonchus arvensis.

110. KOLPODA CUCULLIO. K. ovalis depressa, infra apicem tantillum sinuata. Flat oval kolpoda, with a small degree of bending beneath the apex.

This is an oval, or rather an elliptical kolpoda, membranaceous and bright; flat on the upper side, and convex on the under; the fore-part is clear, and from the middle to the hinder-part it is filled with silver-like globules. It frequently stretches out the fore-part, and folds it in different positions.

111. KOLPODA REN. K. crassa medio sinuata. This kolpoda is thick, and carved in the middle.

The body is yellow, thick, and rather opake; curved a little, in the middle, so as to have the appearance of a kidney; the whole body is filled with molecules. Its motion is quick, fluctuating, and interrupted. When the water in which it swims is about to fail, it assumes an oval form, is compressed, and at last bursts. It is found in an infusion of hay, generally about thirteen hours after the infusion is made.

112. KOLPODA PIRUM. K. convexa, ovalis, apice in rostrum producta. Plate XXV. Fig. 20 and 21. Convex kolpoda, oval, the apex formed into a kind of beak.

The body is uniform and transparent, without any sensible inequality; the neck rather long and a little bent; it is of a pale colour, and furnished with obscure little globules. It propagates by division. Fig. 20 represents this animalculum; Fig. 21, the same dividing to form another; _a_, the fore-part; _b_, the hind-part; _c_, where it is dividing.

113. KOLPODA CUNEUS. K. clavata, teres, apice dentata. Clavated kolpoda, round, the apex dentated.

This is a large animalculum, the body white, gelatinous, without any distinct viscera. It has a pellucid, bright, striated pustule on one side of the fore-part; the apex is distinguished by three or four teeth, the hinder-part is smaller than the fore-part, with an obtuse termination, which it can bend into a spiral form.

IX. GONIUM.

Vermis inconspicuus, simplicissimus, complanatus, angulatus. An invisible, simple, smooth, angular worm.

114. GONIUM PECTORALE. G. quadrangulare, pellucidum moleculis sedecim sphæricis. Plate XXV. Fig. 17. This gonium is quadrangular, pellucid, with sixteen spherical molecules.

These sixteen little oval bodies are nearly equal in size, of a greenish colour, pellucid, and set in a quadrangular membrane, like the jewels in the breast-plate of the high-priest, reflecting light on both sides. Its animality is evinced by its spontaneous motion, advancing alternately towards the right and left; these little bodies seem oval when in motion, round when at rest; the four interior ones are a little larger than the rest. It is found in pure water.