In this vibrio, the mouth, the oesophagus, the molecules in the intestines, and the twisting of them, are very conspicuous. The tail is exceeding small, and bent so as to form a considerable angle with the body. It is found in river water.
71. Vibrio Anguillula.
V. æqualis, subrigidus. Vibrio of an equal size throughout, and somewhat hard.
This animalculum may be divided into four varieties, if not distinct species: namely, 1. Anguillula aceti. 2. Anguillula glutinis farinosi. 3. Anguillula aquæ dulcis; and 4. Anguillula aquæ marinæ. These varieties I shall first describe, together with the eels in blighted wheat, and then proceed with the rest of the vibrio.
1. ANGUILLULA ACETI, OR VINEGAR EEL.
[Plate XI.] Fig. 7.
Chaos redivivum, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1326.[124] Leeuwenhoeck Opera Omn. p. 3, n. 1, f, l, o. Joblot Observ. Micros. 1, p. 2, pl. 2. Hooke’s Micrograph, p. 216, pl. 25, fig. 3. Borelli Observ. Micros. 1, p. 7. Power’s Micros. Observ. p. 32. Adams Micrograph. Illustr. 4th edition, p. 125, pl. 38, fig. 197, A, B, C, D. Rozier Journal Physique, Mars 1775, Janv. & Mars 1776. Spallanzani Opusc. Phys. part 1, p. 83.
[124] Linnæus includes this and the paste eel under the same title:—Habitat in aceto et glutine bibliopegorum. He adds,—Reviviscit ex aqua per annos exsiccatum. Edit.
This eel is both oviparous and viviparous; it is filiform, but in other respects differs considerably from the paste eel. It is longer, not near so large, the tail is smaller and more tapering; it moves with much greater ease, and is more lively. In the tail of this eel we may observe in miniature, what may be seen on a much larger scale in that of the viper, viz. a small projection somewhat resembling a tongue, which occasionally appears as delineated in the figure at a b, and at other times adheres close to the body. An alimentary duct may be easily discovered, but no other intestines can be discerned, without deranging altogether the organization of the animalculum. The pungent taste of vinegar was formerly attributed to these animalcula, an opinion which was soon exploded.