Chapter XV: Himantopus

Vermis inconspicuus, pellucidus, cirratus. A pellucid, invisible, cirrated[127] worm.

[127] That is, furnished with a tuft or lock of hair.

274. HIMANTOPUS ACARUS. H. ventrosus, postice cirratus, antice 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.