Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-11

spiration, or, more properly the eration Of
the fluids, is effected in the Rotifera by the
constant introduction of fresh water through
one or more apertures near the neck; and
IN some kinds there are internal oval bodies,
composed OF granules or corpuscules which
nave constantly tremulous motion, and are
supposed to perform the Office of brdRchid,
or gllls this, at least, is the function ascri-
bed to them by Ehrenberg, and he further
considered that the tremulous motion was
occasloned by the lamin9 or leaflets that
compose them. The Rotatoria are not con-
sidered to possess a true nervous system, al
though there are indications of nervous CEN
tres, or gangli, in several genera. Many
species have eyes, which vary in number
they are usually of a red colour; in some
they are placed upon a gdnglion, and are
freely movable beneath the transparent SUI
perficial envelope of the body.
The Rotatorial Infusoria are not endow wed
with the various faculties of propagation
which we have already described as apper-
tanning the Polygastria. Reproduc ton in
all cases is effected by means of ova. Some
kinds are ovparous, others viviparous. An
elongated bag or sac, in which the eggs are
formed is distinctly visible but few eggs
are developed at the same time. The ova
in many species equal in size one-thrd of
the body of the animalcule; like the seeds
of vegetables, they retain their vitality for
an indefinite length of time, until accident
throws them into situation suitable for their
development. But although the Rotatoria
have not the same rapid means of reproduce
/ ton as those with which the Poygastria are
) endowed, yet their vast increase by eggs on
ly will astonish most persons who have not
r previously considered the subject. Ehren-
berg states that he isolated single speci-
: men of Hydatina senta, and kept it in a sep
arate vessel for eighteen days; that during
this interval it laid four eggs per day, and
that the young at two days old, laid like
: number; so that, when circumstances are
r favourable, one million individuals may be
obtained from one specimen in ten days on
| the eleventh day this brood will amount to
5 four millions, and on the twelfth day to SIX
/ teen millions.
= We have thus given general view of the
e nature and habits of the Infusoria. We
= cannot attempt within our limits to detail
, the number offamilies, genera, and species,
y into which they have been divided by En-
i renberg, but must refer the reader to the
!, valuable work of Mr.. Pritchard, named at
! the commencement of this article, which
: contains not only an abstract of the labours
5 of Ehrenberg, his classhcations, and de-
scriptlon of every species, but also accurate
ly drawn representations of most of these
J animalcules, their mode ofpropagation, &c.
Mr. Pritchard has for many years been an
interchangeable abourer in this field of scen-
tfic research he has done much to draw
attention to the value of the microscope, and
r. to pop'rlariZe its important revelations and
: we are happy to have it in our power to bear
: our humble testimony to the great exertions
q of himself and his late colleague, DR.. Cor
ing. Dr. MandtelPs work, likewise quoted in
# our heading, is also a valuable compilation,
n but we are not aware that any translation of
! it has yet been made.
, We will now proceed to direct our atten-
h ton to certain points in relation to the lnfl-
n soria which are still matter of debate a.
o mongst naturalists. In the first place then,
r. the question naturally arises, DO all these
y lnfusoria belong to the animal or vegetable
f. kingdom pa question somewhat difficult
# of solution. BY many naturalists a great
# number of the forms reckoned among the
IS lnfusoria have been placed in the vegetable
,s kingdom. Even in one of the volumes now
before us, whole family, that of the Bacil-
n laria, placed by Ehrenberg amongst the In
o fusoria, is referred by DR.. Mantell to the We
n getable kingdom and considered by him as
= alge, belonging to the order DesmldlaceG,
r rather than as being in any way related TO
% the lnfusoria nor can we wonder at this
= difference of opinion when we reflect how
i. closely the lower forms of vegetables and an
q finals resemble each other. Thus, the low
l. est form of the Monad consists of single
Al cell so do some of the most simple forms
!. of the vegetable world. A higher class of
Il Infusoria consists of an aggregation of cells,
! and here again we have a resemblance a.
70 mongst plants The Polygastria, as we have
seen, propagate by Subdivision so do the
! Conferve. In some of the sea-weeds the
IS sporule, or young plant, is formed within one
n of the cells of the parent; at the period of
q maturity the cell bursts, the sporule is re-
y leased, and is seen to be fringed with a NUM-
a Der of ella, by the motion of which the new
being is enabled to traverse the water until
~ it finds spot fitted for its future growth, to
4 which it then becomes adherent" But the
l. same phenomenon exactly is observed III re-
; lation to the germ of the sponge. 1t will be
-, seen, therefore, how difficult it is to draw the
- line of demarcation between animals and
~ vegetables, and, indeed, taking all these facts
r into consideration, DIR. Carus, an able COM
~ mentator on the discoveries of Ehrenberg,
q observes that, 1T seems to follow that we
e are entitled to suppose between plants and
# animals an original organic kingdom-a
!. kingdom such as we have attempted to rep
y resent as the kingdom ofthe protorganisms !;
I nay, that this is the only way in which we
r. can succeed in laying down truly generic
% haea cir zattp ha-
= ginning with the most simple, and losing it.
:. self in one direction in the vegetable, and
4 in the other in the animal kingdom
e AS this remarkable phenomenon IN reference to the
propagation of of the simplest FORMS Of pns ana 10
resemblance TO the reproduction of animals low IN the
scale of organizations be new to many OF our readers
ouote moIo heightened description of II fom recently pub
shed and interesting work by Mr. asall entitled