acuminatus. Plate XXVII. Fig. 27. Round and prominent himantopus, the
hinder-part cirrated, the fore-part sharp.
It is a lively, conical, ventricose animalculum, full of black
molecules, the fore-part bright and transparent. The apex, which has
long hairs on the under part set like rays, is more or less attenuated,
at the will of the little creature; four locks of long and crooked hair,
or feet, proceed from the belly; and it is continually moving these and
the other hairs in various directions. It is found, though seldom, where
the lemna grows. _a_, the apex; _b_, the ciliated part; _c_, the feet.
275. HIMANTOPUS LUDIO. H. cirrata, supra crinita, cauda sursum extensa.
Plate XXVII. Fig. 26. Curled himantopus, the upper part hairy, the tail
extended upwards.
This is a lively and diverting animalculum, smooth, pellucid, full of
small points, the fore-part clubbed and a little bent, the hind-part
narrow; the base obliquely truncated, and terminating in a tail
stretched out transversely. The top of the head, and the middle of the
back _b_, are furnished with long vibrating hairs; three moveable and
flexible curls _a_, are suspended from the side of the head, at a
distance from each other. When the animalculum is at rest, its tail is
curled; but when in motion, it is drawn tight, and extended upwards,
frequently appearing as if it were cleft, as at _f_.
276. HIMANTOPUS SANNIO. H. incurvata, supra ciliata, infra crinita.
Crooked himantopus, the upper part ciliated, the under part hairy.
This very much resembles the himantopus ludio, the cilia are longer than
the hairs, and are continually vibrating; it has two moveable curls
hanging on the side of the head. Is found, though seldom, in water where
the lemna grows.
277. HIMANTOPUS VOLUTATOR. H. lunatus, antice cirratus. Lunated
himantopus, the fore-part hairy.
A very lively animalculum, often turning round in a circular direction.
Its shape is that of a crescent, with some crystalline points; the
convex part is furnished with a row of hairs, which are longest towards
the tail, and underneath are four feet.
278. HIMANTOPUS LARVA. H. elongatus, medio cirratus. Long himantopus,
cirrated in the middle.
The body is rather depressed and long; the hinder-parts acute, and
generally curved, pellucid, and filled with granular molecules. Its
motion resembles that of the himantopus ludio, No. 275, but its figure,
and the situation of its parts are different.
279. HIMANTOPUS CHARON. H. cymbæformis fulcata, in fovea ventrali
cirrata. Boat-shaped furrowed himantopus, the hollow part of the belly
cirrated.
An oval pellucid membrane, the fore-part hairy, furrowed longitudinally,
each side bent up, so as to form an intermediate hollow place, or belly,
filled with grey molecules; beneath the middle it has several bent
diverging rows of hairs; no hairs on the hinder-part. It is found in sea
water, but rarely.
280. HIMANTOPUS CORONA. H. semiorbiculata, depressa, in utraque pagina
cirrata. Semiorbicular himantopus, flattened, both sides cirrated.
A membranaceous lamina, very thin, pellucid, crystalline, and semilunar;
the edge of the base is thick set with molecular intestines; the
fore-part furnished with short hairs, or a kind of mane; towards the
hind-part are three equal curved hairs, or spines.
XVI. VORTICELLA.
Vermis contractilis, nudus, ciliis rotatoriis. A naked worm, with
rotatory cilia, capable of contracting and extending itself.
281. VORTICELLA CINCTA. V. trapeziformis, nigro-viridis, opaca. Plate
XXVII. Fig. 30. This vorticella is in the form of a trapezium, of a
blackish green colour, and opake.
It is of an irregular shape, sometimes assuming an oval figure, and
appearing as if girt round with a transverse keel, _a_. It is invisible
to the naked eye, ciliated on every side; the hairs all moveable, and
longer on one side than the other.
282. VORTICELLA SPHÆROIDA. V. cylindrico-globosa, uniformis, opaca. A
globous cylinder, uniform and opake.
To the naked eye this appears also little more than a point, but the
microscope exhibits it as a globular mass of a dark green colour. It
occasions a vehement motion in the surrounding water, which is probably
effected by some very short hairs, which are perceptible.
283. VORTICELLA VIRIDIS. V. cylindracea, uniformis, viridis opaca. Plate
XXVII. Fig. 31. Cylindrical, uniform, green, and opake.
This vorticella is visible to the naked eye, appearing like a minute
green point; but the microscope discovers it to be nearly cylindrical,
of a dark green colour, a little thicker at the fore-part _a_, than the
hinder-part _b_, and both extremities obtuse. It appears to be totally
destitute of limbs; notwithstanding which, it keeps the water in
constant motion; so that it has probably some invisible rotatory
instrument. It does not change its figure. Its motion is sometimes
circular, at others, in a straight line. At _c_, some short hairs are
visible.
284. VORTICELLA LUNIFERA. V. viridis, postice lunata, medio margine
mucronato. Green vorticella, the hinder part lunated, with a point in
the middle projecting from the edge.
The fore-part obtuse, the base broad, and hollowed away like a crescent,
with a protuberance in the middle of the concave part shorter than the
horns or points of the crescent; the fore-part is ciliated. It is found
in salt water.
285. VORTICELLA BURSATA. V. viridis, apertura truncata, papillaque
centrali. Plate XXVII. Fig. 32. Green vorticella, the aperture
truncated, with a central papillary projection.
Round and prominent, filled with molecules; the fore-part truncated, and
both sides of it pellucid; in the center of the aperture there is a
prominent papilla or nipple, which when the animalculum is at rest,
appears notched; the edge of the aperture is surrounded with cilia;
these are sometimes all erect, shining, and in motion, or part bent back
and quiescent, and part in motion; sometimes a few of them are collected
together, and turned back like little hooks, one on each side. It is
found in salt water. _a_, the cilia; _b_, the projecting papilla; _c_,
the pellucid space at the fore-part.
286. VORTICELLA VARIA. V. cylindrica, truncata, opaca, nigricans.
Cylindrical, truncated, opake, blackish-coloured vorticella, the
fore-part ciliated.
287. VORTICELLA SPUTARIUM. V. ventrosa, apertura orbiculari, ciliis
longis raris excentricis. Round and prominent, with an orbicular
aperture, and long hairs radiating as from a center.
This is one of the most singular of the microscopic animalcula; when
viewed sidewise, it is sometimes nearly cylindrical, but somewhat
tapering towards the hinder-part, and having a broad pellucid edge;
viewed from the top, it has sometimes a broad face or disc furnished
with radiating hairs, the under part contracted into a globular shape,
of a dark green colour, and filled with small grains. It was found in
October with the lesser lemna.
288. VORTICELLA NIGRA. V. trochiformis nigra. Plate XXVII. Fig. 36 and
37. Top-shaped black vorticella.
This may be seen with the naked eye, appearing like a black point
swimming on the surface of the water; the microscope exhibits it as a
minute conical body, opake, obtuse, and ventricose at one extremity, and
acute at the other. When it extends the extremities, two small white
hooks become visible; by the assistance of these it moves in the water,
and it is probable from some circumstances that they inclose a rotatory
organ. It moves continually in a vacillating manner on the top of the
water. It is found in August, in meadows that are covered with water.
_a_, the rotatory organ; _b_, the two small hooks; _c_, the acute end.
289. VORTICELLA MULTIFORMIS. V. viridis, opaca, varia, vesiculis
sparsis. Green, opake, variable vorticella, with vesicles scattered
about the body.
The vesicles of this vorticella are larger; in other respects it so much
resembles the preceding one, that a further description is unnecessary.
It is found in salt water.
290. VORTICELLA POLYMORPHA. V. multiformis, viridis, opaca. Plate XXVII.
Fig. 33, 34, 35. Many-shaped vorticella, green, opake.
To the naked eye it appears like a green point, moving with great
agility; but, when viewed through a microscope, it assumes such a
variety of forms, that they can neither be exhibited to the eye by
drawings, nor described by words; it is truly one of the wonders of
nature, astonishing the mind, fatiguing the eye, and continually
exciting the beholder to ask,
“Quo teneam vultus mutantem protea nodo?”
The body is granulous, and a series of pellucid points is sometimes to
be observed, as at _b b_.
Fig. 33, 34, 35, represent this vorticella in three different forms;
_a_, the fore-part; _g_, the hind-part; _c_, the fore-part simple; _d_,
the fore-part turned in or doubled.
291. VORTICELLA CUCULLUS. V. elongata, teres, apertura oblique truncata.
This vorticella is long, round, the aperture or mouth obliquely
truncated.
This being visible to the naked eye, may likewise be ranked among the
larger vorticellæ. The body is somewhat conical, of a dingy red colour;
its shape has been compared to that of a grenadier’s cap.
292. VORTICELLA UTRICULATA. V. Viridis, ventricosa, productilis, antice
truncata. Green vorticella, the belly round and prominent, capable of
being lengthened or shortened; the fore-part truncated, much in the
shape of a common water-bottle; the neck is sometimes very long, at
others, very short, and filled with green molecules.
293. VORTICELLA OCREATA. V. subcubica, infra in angulum obtusum
producta. This vorticella is somewhat of a cubical figure, the under
part bent in an obtuse angle.
It is a very singular animalculum, in shape somewhat resembling the
lower part of a boot; the apex of the upper part or leg is truncated and
ciliated, the heel pointed, and the foot round. It is to be found in
rivers, though very rarely.
294. VORTICELLA VALGA. V. cubica, infra divaricata. Cubical vorticella,
the lower part divaricated.
This is as broad as long, and filled with grey molecules, the apex
truncated and ciliated; both angles of the base projecting outwards, one
somewhat like a wart, the other like a finger. It is found in marshy
waters.
295. VORTICELLA PAPILLARIS. V. ventricosa, antice truncata, papilla
caudali et laterali hyalina. Big-belled vorticella, the fore-part
truncated, with a papillary tail, and a splendid papillary excrescence
on the side. It is found in marshes where the conferva nitida grows.
296. VORTICELLA SACCULUS. V. cylindracea, apertura repanda, margine
reflexo. Cylindrical vorticella, the aperture broad and flat, the edge
turned down.
A thick animalculum, of an equal diameter everywhere, and filled with
molecules; the edge of the mouth is bent back, the hinder-part obtuse,
sometimes notched and contracted, with cilia on both sides of the mouth.
297. VORTICELLA CIRRATA. V. ventrosa, apertura sinuata, cirro utrinque
ventrali. Big-bellied vorticella, the aperture sinuated, two tufts of
hair on each side of the belly. It is found in ditch water.
298. VORTICELLA NASUTA. V. cylindracea, crateris medio mucrone
prominente. Plate XXVII. Fig. 38, 39. Cylindrical, with a prominent
point in the middle of the cup.
An animalculum that is invisible to the naked eye; but the microscope
discovers it to be furnished with a rotatory organ, which encompasses
the middle of the body.
It is pellucid, cylindrical, of an unequal size; the fore-part, _a_,
truncated and ciliated, and a triangular prominence, _e_, in the middle
of the aperture; the hind-part is obtuse, with a point on each side of
the middle of the body. This is the appearance of the little creature
when in motion; but when the water is nearly exhaled, some further parts
of its structure are rendered visible; two rotatory organs are now
observable; one on the fore-part, and the other encompassing the middle
of the body, _h h_; the hairs of the latter are in vehement motion.
Other fascicles of moving hair may likewise be observed, and the
variegated and quick motion of this apparatus is very surprizing,
especially if the animalculum be big with young, moving at the same
time within the mother.
299. VORTICELLA STELLINA. V. orbicularis, disco moleculari, peripheria
ciliata. Orbicular vorticella, with a molecular disc, and ciliated
margin.
300. VORTICELLA DISCINA. V. orbicularis, margine ciliato, subtus
convexo-ansata. Plate XXVI. Fig. 8, 9, 10. Orbicular vorticella, the
edge ciliated, with a kind of convex handle on the under-side.
301. VORTICELLA SCYPHINA. V. craterformis, crystallina, medio spærula
opaca. Bowl-shaped vorticella, crystalline, with an opake spherule in
the middle.
302. VORTICELLA ALBINA. V. cylindrica, postice acuminata. The fore-part
cylindrical, the hinder-part tapering, and ending nearly in a point.
303. VORTICELLA FRITILLINA. V. cylindrica vacua, apice truncata, ciliis
prælongis. Empty cylindrical vorticella, the apex truncated.
304. VORTICELLA TRUNCATELLA. V. cylindrica, differta, apice truncata,
cyliis breviusculis. Cylindrical vorticella, stuffed or filled, the apex
truncated, with very short cilia.
This is one of the larger kind of animalcula; the body is crystalline,
and replete with black molecules; the skin is perfectly smooth and
colourless, the hinder extremity rounded, and the anterior truncated; at
this extremity there is a large opening thickly ciliated, which serves
as a mouth.
305. VORTICELLA LIMACINA. V. cylindrica, truncata, ciliis bigeminis.
Plate XXVII. Fig. 60. Cylindrical truncated vorticella, with two pair of
cilia.
306. VORTICELLA FRAXININA. V. gregaria, cylindracea, oblique truncata,
ciliis bigeminis, apice margine fissa. Gregarious cylindrical
vorticella, obliquely truncated, with two pair of cilia, and a fissure
or notch at the upper edge.
The greater part of the body is cylindrical; the hinder-part rather
tapering, and filled with opake molecules; towards the upper end it is
transparent; within the edge, at the top are two small tubercles, from
each side of which proceed a pair of small hairs.
307. VORTICELLA CRATEGARIA. V. composita, floribus muticis globosis;
tentaculis binis, stirpe ramosa, Plate XXII. Fig. 40. Compound, with
globous naked florets, two tentacules, and a branched stem. For an ample
description of this animalculum, see page 400.
308. VORTICELLA HAMATA. V. bursæformis, margine aperturæ aculeis
rigidis. Plate XXVII. Fig. 40. Purse-formed; the edge of its aperture or
mouth set with rigid points.
It is not ciliated, nor have any hairs been discovered upon it; the body
is granulated, the fore-part broad and truncated, the hinder-part
obtuse, and capable of being contracted or extended. _a_, the rigid
points.
309. VORTICELLA CRATERIFORMIS. V. subquadrata, ciliorum fasciculis etiam
postice. Plate XXVII. Fig. 40, 41. Approaching somewhat to a square
figure, with fascicles of cilia even at the hinder-part.
A lively animalculum, pellucid, round, longer than it is broad, with
convex sides; the head is situated at the large end, the skin smooth,
and some traces of intestines may be discovered with difficulty. There
is a considerable opening surrounded with hair at the larger end, and
the filaments composing it are in continual motion. Two of them are
sometimes seen joined together, as at Fig. 41, and full of small
spherules; in this state they draw each other alternately different
ways, the surface is smooth and the hairs invisible. _e_, moveable
cilia.
310. VORTICELLA CANALICULATA. V. dilatata, pellucida, latere inciso.
Dilated, pellucid, with an incision in the side.
To the naked eye it appears as so many white points adhering to the
sides of the glass; when magnified, the anterior part is narrower than
the hind one; in the side a kind of incision may be perceived, and the
hind-part is a little notched towards the middle; it is furnished with a
rotatory organ, with which it excites a continual whirling motion in the
water.
311. VORTICELLA VERSATILIS. V. elongata spiculiformis, mox urceolaris.
Long spear-formed vorticella, but which often changes its shape into a
pitcher-like form.
A pellucid, gelatinous animalculum, of a greenish colour, furnished with
small radii, particularly about the circumference, which gives it the
appearance of a minute water hedge-hog.
312. VORTICELLA AMPULLA. V. folliculo ampulaceo, pellucido, capite
bilobo. Plate XXVI. Fig. 4 and 5. This vorticella is contained in a
pellucid bottle-shaped bag, the head divided into two lobes.
Little more need be said to enable the reader to know this animalculum,
if he should meet with it, than to observe that the bag is nearly in the
shape of the common water-bottle, and that the animalculum is sometimes
to be observed at the bottom of it, sometimes nearly filling it.
313. VORTICELLA FOLLICULATA. V. oblonga, folliculo cylindraceo hyalino.
Oblong vorticella, in a bright cylindrical bag.
This animalculum is gelatinous and cylindrical; when at its greatest
extension, the base appears attenuated, and the apex truncated.
314. VORTICELLA LARVA. V. cylindrica, apertura lunata, spinis caudalibus
binis. Cylindrical, the aperture somewhat in the shape of a crescent,
two small thorny points projecting from the hinder-part.
The head, the trunk, and the tail, may be easily distinguished from each
other. It is of a clay-colour, the aperture ciliated; with a globular
projection at times appearing to proceed from it.
315. VORTICELLA SACCULATA. V. inverse conica, apertura lunata, trunco
postice bidentato, cauda elongata biphylla. Plate XXVII. Fig. 42 and 43.
This vorticella is in the shape of an inverted cone, with an aperture
the figure of a crescent; the lower part of the trunk is notched,
forming as it were two teeth; the tail biphyllous. Each of these parts
is surrounded with a loose bright skin, the head is divided from the
trunk by a deep incision. _a a a_, small points projecting from the
head; _b_, the cilia; _c_ and _d d_, the interior parts; Fig. 42, _l_,
the little horn at the bottom of the trunk.
316. VORTICELLA AURITA. V. cylindrico-ventrosa, apertura mutica, ciliis
utrinque rotantibus cauda, articulata biphylla. Cylindrical and
big-bellied, the aperture destitute of hairs, both sides of it are
furnished with rotatory cilia, the tail biphyllous.
317. VORTICELLA TREMULA. V. inverse conica, apertura lobata spinulosa,
cauda brevi unicuspi. Somewhat of a conical shape; the mouth being
divided into two parts which are set with small spines, and a point
projects from the tail.
It is a pellucid crystalline ventricose animalculum, within the body on
one side, there is a large clay-coloured oval mass, and a pellucid oval
substance adjacent to it; the tail is articulated and very short.
318. VORTICELLA SERITA. V. inverse conica, apertura spinosa integra,
cauda brevi bicuspi. Somewhat of the shape of a cone, the aperture set
with spines, the tail short and divided into two points.
The body is muscular, pellucid, folding variously; the fore-part
truncated; round the margin of the aperture are rows of hairs, but it
has also stiffer hairs or spines continually vibrating, with which it
draws in both animate and inanimate substances. It has some resemblance
to the larger vorticella rotatoria, but is easily distinguished from it
by its horned spiny aperture, and simple rotatory organ.
319. VORTICELLA LACINULATA. V. inverse conica, apertura lobata, setis
binis caudalibus. Plate XXVII. Fig. 45. Shaped like an inverted cone,
the aperture lobated, the tail small and furnished with two bristles,
_d_.
The body is pellucid, cylindrical, and muscular; the apex about a third
part down, drawn into a little neck; in the middle is a little lamina or
triangular point; another of these is discovered when the aperture faces
the observer, which makes it appear like a small flower. The hind-part,
when in motion, is a little bent; it terminates in two minute bristles,
which are seen sometimes united, at other times diverging. When the
animalculum is swimming, its rotatory organ, _a_, may be seen; molecular
intestines are visible; it moves with velocity in an oblique direction.
It is found in pure water.
320. VORTICELLA CONSTRICTA. V. elliptico-ventricosa, apertura integra,
cauda annulata biphylla. Elliptical ventricose vorticella, the aperture
or mouth undivided, the tail annulated and forked.
There are two kinds of this vorticella; viz. one of a pale yellow, the
other of a white colour; the head, the tail, and the trunk, are fully
distinguished; a substance in motion has been perceived, which has been
supposed to be the heart; they move by fixing their tail to the glass
upon the stage of the microscope, and extending their body as much as
possible; they then fix the fore-part to the place where they intend to
move, and draw the hinder-part to it, proceeding thus alternately. They
sometimes turn round about upon one of the points of their tail, at
other times they spring forwards with a jerk. When at rest they open
their mouths very wide; the lips are ciliated, in some of them two black
globules are discovered.
321. VORTICELLA TOGATA. V. subquadrata, apertura integra, spinis
caudalibus binis, plerumque unitis. Square vorticella, the aperture not
divided, the tail consisting of two long spines, which are sometimes so
united as to appear as one.
The body is convex, of a dark colour, and filled with molecules; the
middle part is pellucid, the hinder-part rather broader than the
fore-part; the latter is ciliated, and the tail formed of two very thin
pellucid spines, which are somewhat curved and much longer than the
body.
322. VORTICELLA LONGISETA. V. elongata, compressa, setis caudalibus
binis longissimis. Long vorticella, flat, the tail formed of two very
long bristles.
The fore-part sinuated, and set with minute cilia; the two bristles
which constitute the tail are long, but one is longer than the other.
323. VORTICELLA ROTATORIA. V. cylindrica, pedicello collari, cauda longa
quadracuspi. Plate XXVI. Fig. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and Plate XXVII. Fig. 46, 47, 48, and 49.
Cylindrical vorticella, with a little foot projecting from the neck, a
long tail furnished with four points.
Brachionus corpore conico subæquali. Hill Hist. Anim. Brachionus corpore
conico toruloso. Ibid. Brachionus. Pallas Zooph. 50. Joblot Micros, part
2, p. 77, pl. 10, fig. 18; and p. 96, pl. 5, A B C D E K. Adams’s
Microgr. Illustr. p. 148, pl. 40, fig. 255. Leeuwenhoeck Contin. Arc.
Nat. p. 386, fig. 1, 2. Baker’s Micros. made easy, p. 91-93, pl. 8, fig.
6, 7, 8. Ibid. Empl. for the Micr. p. 267-294, pl. 11, fig. 1 to 13.
Spallanz. Opusc. Phys. 2, p. 301, 315, pl. 4, fig. 3, 4, and 5. Rozier
Journal Physique, 1775, p. 220.
This animalculum has long been known by the name of the wheel animal; in
the description of which no person appears to have succeeded so well as
Baker; and to him every writer has since referred for an ample account
of this curious little being. What I shall now say on the subject will
be chiefly extracted from the same source of information, with such
alterations and additions as appear to be necessary to render his
account more complete.
I shall begin with observing, that Müller’s wheel animal differs in some
respects from that of Baker’s; first, with regard to the rotatory organs
which are extended on the back like ears; secondly, the two little
splendid substances within the body; and thirdly, the two black points
near the top of the head, which are probably the creature’s eyes.
This little animal is found in rain water that has stood for some days
in leaden gutters; in the hollows of lead on the tops of houses; or in
the slime and sediment left in rain water; they are also sometimes to be
met with in ditches and amongst duck-weed.