Chapter 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.