On Molecular and Microscopic Science, Volume 2 (of 2)Somerville, Mary
History
On Molecular and Microscopic Science, Volume 2 (of 2)
Somerville, Mary
Matter -- Constitution; Microscopy; Natural history
The Turbellariæ are fresh- and salt-water animals, distinguished by
having the whole surface of their bodies covered by cilia, under which
in some species there are thread-cells containing six, eight, or a
greater number of darts. Most of the members of this tribe have
elongated flattened bodies, and move by a sort of crawling or gliding
motion over the surface of aquatic plants and animals. Some of the
smaller kinds are sufficiently transparent to allow their internal
structure to be seen by transmitted light. The mouth, which is situated
at a considerable distance from the rounded end of the body, opens into
a sort of gullet leading into the stomach, which has no other orifice,
but a great number of branching canals are prolonged from it, which
carry its contents into every part of the body. A pair of oval
nerve-centres are placed near the rounded end of the animal, whence
nerves extend to various parts of the body; and near to these there are
from two to forty rudimentary eyes according to the species, each of
which has its crystalline lens, its pigment layer, nerve bulb, and its
cornea. The power of the Planaria to reproduce portions which have been
removed is but little inferior to that of the Hydra.
_Annelids._
The Annelids are the most highly organized of all the worm tribe. They
are exceedingly numerous and varied; some are inhabitants of fresh
water, others are terrestrial, but by far the greater number and most
highly endowed are marine. They generally have a long, soft, and smooth
body, divided or marked by transverse rings into a succession of similar
segments. In many the first and last segments are alike; in others the
first segment can scarcely be called a head, though it exercises several
functions, while in the highest two orders the head is the seat of
several senses. On each side of the bodies of the Annelida there are one
or two long rows of tufted bristles or feet, which may be regarded as
the earliest form of symmetrical locomotive organs. Most of the Annelids
have ocelli or eye-specks, and in many of them the head supports soft
cylindrical tentacles, which are obviously organs of touch. These worms
are divided into four orders, the Suctorial, Terrestrial, Tubercular,
and Errantia, or Wandering Worms.[32]
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