You will have observed that the admixture of carmine to the water, while the animalcules were active, shows the direction of the ciliary motion with great distinctness. The particles form two eddies, one on each side of the front, which meet in the centre in a strong current, and pass off behind the mouth on each side. We do not perceive that any of them swallow the particles of carmine, for the internal vessels remain colourless.

I have found that if a drop of water containing these animals be placed on a slip of glass exposed to the open air, they do not burst as the water dries away, but dry flat on the glass, their bodies broader but shorter than when alive, and quite entire. Their cilia are then very manifest. On being again wetted, though after only a few minutes' desiccation, I have never been able to revive them, nor any other Infusoria in like circumstances, notwithstanding what is stated in books.

Here is another species in equally amazing profusion, S. mytilus. Its form is oblong, with rounded extremities, the anterior obliquely dilated. This species affords a good example of the various organs of locomotion. A transparent oblong shield, which is quite soft and flexible, is spread over the back, which does not prevent our eyes discerning all the organs through it ; though, much more commonly, the animal, when under the microscope, crawls, belly upward, beneath the glass cover of the live-box. Around the anterior part, which is broadened, are placed cilia, which are vibratile ; these are continued round the mouth, a sort of fold on the side. Towards the posterior extremity on each side are other rows of cilia, which beinglarge are well displayed. On the ventral surface, chiefly towards the front part, are seen several thick pointed processes, shaped like the prickles of a rose, but flexible, and capable of being turned every way. These are the ttncini, and are evidently used as feet, the tips being applied to the glass. The optical effect of the throwing about of these uncini, when the place which they touch is in focus, is very curious. They are rapidly moved, but without regularity ; the tips bend as they touch the surface of the glass ; some of them seem to have accessory hairs, equally long, but slender, proceeding from the same base. On the hinder quarter of the ventral surface are several thick pointed spines; these are inflexible, nearly straight, placed side by side, but not in regular order, some reaching beyond others. I have not seen these used, but they commonly remain sticking out in a horizontal direction. These organs are termed styles. Besides these, there are three slender bristles, called setce, placed at the hinder extremity, the central one in the line of the body, the others radiating at an angle. These are distinguished from the cilia, not only by their length, but by not being vibratile. The motions of these animals are powerful, but, irregular and fitful, very much like those of the former species. They dart hither and thither, backward as well as forward, occasionally shooting round and round in a circle, with many gyrations, much like the pretty little polished bettles (Gyrinus) that play in mazy dances on the surface of a pool. The two extremities seem covered with minute pits or stipplings, but colourless ; the central part is occupied with yellowish granules of different sizes.

I once witnessed the dissolution of one of these animals under peculiar circumstances. Two or three stems of an aquatic plant had become crossed in the live-box so as to form an area, into which the Stylonychia had somehow introduced himself. There was just room for him to move backward and forward without turning, and the space was about three times his own length. Within this narrow limit he impatiently continued crawling to and fro, moving his uncini with great rapidity, and showing their extreme flexibility ; for, as he applied them now to the stem, now to the surface of the glass, these whip-like uncini were sometimes bent double. The so-called styles at the posterior extremity, though less frequently used so, were yet occasionally bent and applied to the surface as feet, so that they are certainly not inflexible as supposed, nor do I see any essential difference between them and the uncini. The whole body was flexible, taking the form of any passage or nook into which it was thrust, yet recovering its elasticity immediately the pressure was removed. Its proper form appeared to be convex above and concave beneath, rather than flat. After having been thus employed about half an hour under my observation, it became still, moving only its cilia, when I left it a little while, and on my return found that it was dissolved ; the outline having entirely disappeared, and nothing being left but the granules, and globular vesicles, that had constituted its viscera, some of which still contained the carmine which had been very perceptible in the living animal. This was the more remarkable, as there was plenty of water. It looked like suicide,— a spontaneous choosing of death rather than hopeless captivity.

Common as these Stylonychke are, and abundant beyond all calculation, where they do occur, from their tendency to self-division, they are not so universally met with as their cousins, of the genus Euplotes. These are still more highly organised, and will please you by their activity and sprightly intelligence, I am sure. Here are several individuals in the live-box at this moment.

They differ from the Stylonychice, in having the soft body covered with a plate of crystal mail, hard and inflexible, much like the shield of a Tortoise. Several species have this glassy shield marked with delicate lines running lengthwise ; sometimes in the form of parallel ridges, as in a little species found in infusions (perhaps E. charon), at others forming rows of minute round knobs, as E. truncatus, the species now before us. The shield is ample, considerably overlapping the soft body ; it rises into an arched form in the centre ; and is more or less round or oval. The mouth is oblique, and extends a long way clown the under surface ; it is set with strong and fine cilia, which also EUPLOTES. spread over the front. The orgai, r of motion are, as before, long styles, pointed and rather stiff processes, which project from beneath the shell backwards and downwards, and soft hook-like uncini, which are set chiefly near the fore part of the inferior surface. In the species before us these are about six or seven in number, but in E. charon they are more numerous. The twinkling rapidity with which these little feet are applied to the

surface in crawling affords a pleasing siglit : particularly when the animal is running back-downwards on the upper glass plate of the live-box. Some species have bristles (or setcp) affixed to the hinder part of the shell, from which they diverge. In E. truncatus these are four ; but they are wanting in E. charon. The body displays a mass of granules, vacuoles, and vesicles of different sizes.

These are very beautiful objects ; and their sprightly motions and apparent intelligence give them an additional interest. They crawl more than they swim, running with great swiftness hither and thither, frequently taking short start?, and suddenly stopping. The specimens which we are examining are taken from wTater which had been kept in a jar for several weeks. The vegetable matters are decaying; and among the stems and filaments this pretty species crawls and dodges about. It seems reluctant to leave the shelter of the decaying solution; sometimes one will creep out a little way into the open water, but in an instant it darts back, and settles in among the stems and flocculent matter. Any attempt by turning the glass cover to bring it out into view only makes it dive deeper into the mass, as if seeking concealment. This is about TT—y of an inch in length of lorica ; and the E. charon is not more than one-fourth of this size. These creatures remind one of an Oniscits, especially when in profile.

There is an animal very closely allied to these, but much more beautiful, being of a clear greenish translucency, with several vesicles filled with a rose-coloured or purple flu.d of much brilliancy. This creature, which bears the name of Chlamidodon, has the peculiarity of a set of wand-like teeth arranged in a hollow cylinder.

And with these we dismiss the Infusoria, a class of animals which, from their minuteness, the number and variety of their species, their exceeding abundance, the readiness with which they may be procured, and, as it were, made to our hand (by simply steeping vegetable 2 E matter in water), and the uncertainty which still prevails concerning many parts of their structure and economy ; and therefore, concerning their true affinities in the great plan of creation,—offer one of the most promising fields of research which a young microscopist could cultivate.

These are Thy glorious works, Parent of good, Almighty ; Thine this universal frame, Thus wondrous fair. Thyself how wondrous then ! Unspeakable, Who sitt'st above these heav'ns, To us invisible, or dimly seen In these Tliy loicest works; yet these declare Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine.

THE END.

Index

Acineta, 407.
Acontia, 356.
Air-tubes of Fly, 95.
Alcyonium, 349.
Alternation of Generations, 324, 333.
Amœba, 378.
Anchors of Synapta, 299.
Animalcules, 389.
Antennæ of Chafer, 162; Crab, 171; Fly, 166; Gnat, 166; Insects, 158; Moths, 163; Skipjack, 163; Weevil, 160.
Aphrodite, 263.
Arcella, 383.
Barnacles, 192; hand of, 192; transformations of, 195.
Bee, eyes of, 170; foot of, 119; mouth of, 142; sting of, 125; wing of, 73.
Beetle, mouth of, 138.
“Bird’s-head,” 64; use of, 68.
Blood of Beasts, 27; Birds, 28; Fishes, 28; Frog, 29; Man, 27; Reptiles, 28; Tunicata, 33.
Brachionus, 225.
Bristle-tail, scales of, 77.
Bug, mouth of, 143.
Bugula, 64.
Butterfly, scales of, 79, 80; sucker of, 153.
Caryophyllia, weapons of, 364.
Chameleon-fly, 101.
Cheese-mite, 220.
Chilomonas, 401.
Chirodota, 298.
Cicada, drum of, 89; ovipositor of, 136.
Cilia of Cydippe, 310; Infusoria, 397, 403, 409; Rotifera, 223, 252.
Cinclides, 358.
Cnidæ, 342, 356.
Cockchafer, antennæ of, 162; spiracle of, 100.
Coleps, 399.
Contractile Bladder, 250, 380, 397.
Corkscrew Coralline, 63.
Corynactis, weapons of, 369.
Cothurnia, 409.
Cow’s paps, 349.
Crabs, 171; ears of, 172; eyes of, 174; stages of, 182.
Crane-fly, spiracle of, 99.
Craspeda, 364.
Cricket, drum of, 85.
Cuckoo-fly, ovipositor of, 128.
Cuttle-shell, 39.
Cyclops, 175.
Cydippe, 308.
Cypris, 180.
Daphnia, 178.
Dead-men’s fingers, 349.
Diamond-beetle, scales of, 83.
Dragon-fly, 71; eye of, 166.
Dumb-bells of Holothuria, 297.
Dyticus, foot of, 117.
Earthworm, 259.
Ecthoreum, 366.
Egger-moth, 163.
Euglena, 389.
Eunice, 268.
Euplotes, 416.
Eyes of Crab, 174; Dragon-fly, 166; Harvestman, 209; Infusoria, 389; Insects, 166; Rotifera, 236, 389; Scallop, 50; Snail, 54; Spider, 207.
Feathers, structure of, 15.
Fission of Infusoria, 394, 405.
Flea, mouth of, 146.
Fly, antennæ of, 166; flight of, 70; foot of, 115; spiracle of, 98; tongue of, 151; wing of, 72.
Foot of Actinurus, 249; Bee, 119; Beetle, 117; Brachion, 227; Dinocharis, 241; Fly, 109; Silkworm, 123; Spider, 217; Whiptail, 239.
Foraminifera, 383.
Frog, blood of, 31.
Froghopper, ovipositor of, 135.
Galathea, 186.
Gall-fly, egg-tube of, 128.
Gnat, antennæ of, 166; grub of, 103; mouth of, 149; wing of, 74.
Grantia, 386, 388.
Grasshopper, sounds of, 86.
Hair of Bat, 12; Bee, 14; Beetle, 14; Cat, 8; Hog, 5; Horse, 7; Man, 2; Mole, 9; Moth, 14; Mouse, 11; Sable, 9; Sheep, 7.
Halichondria, 385.
Harvestman, 209.
Heart-urchin, 292.
Horse-fly, mouth of, 145.
House-fly, 70.
Humble-bee, 71.
Hydractinia, 334.
Infusoria, 389.
Insects, 70; air-tubes of, 93; antennæ of, 158; eyes of, 166; feet of, 109; mouths of, 138; sounds of, 84; stings, &c., of, 125.
Jelly-fish, 307.
Katedid, 86.
Laomedea, 326; medusoids of, 331.
Lares, 345.
Larva of Urchin, 301.
Leech, 269.
Limpet, tongue of, 46.
Locomotion, variety in, 258.
Lombrinereis, 268.
Luminosity of Medusa, 319.
Lynceus, 177.
Madrepore, weapons of, 364.
Mastax, 233.
Medusæ, 307; transformations of, 333.
Medusoids of Laomedea, 331; Stauridia, 343.
Megalopa, 182.
Mite, cheese, 220; water, 222.
Mollusca, ears of, 55; eyes of, 51; shells of, 39; tentacles of, 50; tongues of, 46.
Moths, antennæ of, 163.
Moths, scales of, 79, 81.
Mouth of Bee, 142; Beetle, 138; Brachion, 230; Bug, 143; Flea, 146; Gnat, 148; House-fly, 151; Sea-worm, 267; Sword-bearer, 246; Tube-wheel, 251; Whiptail, 238.
Murder, discovery of, 25.
Nacre, 43.
Nais, 262.
Nucleus of Infusoria, 406.
Nymphon, 218.
Otolithes of Medusæ, 320; Slug, 56.
Ovipositor of Cuckoo-fly, 128; Gall-fly, 128; Saw-fly, 131.
Paramœcium, 396.
Pearls, 44.
Pedicellariæ, 282; structure of, 282; use of, 288.
Periwinkle, eating of, 49; tongue of, 50.
Perophora, circulation in, 34; respiration in, 36.
Phyllodoce, 266.
Pleasures of Sea-shore, 325.
Podura, scales of, 78.
Polymorphina, 383.
Polynöe, 262.
Polypes of Alcyonium, 350; Hydractinia, 334; Laomedea, 326; Lar, 348.
Polystomella, 383.
Polyzoa, 60.
Proteus, 378.
Protozoa, 376.
Pseudopodia, 384.
Robber, story of, 2.
Rotifera, 223.
Sabella, 343.
Sagartia, 356, 366.
Sarsia, 313.
Saw-fly, ovipositor of, 130.
Scales of Butterflies, 79; Bristle-tail, 77; Diamond-beetle, 83; Flounder, 21; Gnat, 75; Gold-fish, 19, 24; Perch, 17; Pike, 23; Podura, 78; Sugar-louse, 77; Wrasse, 21.
Scallop, eyes of, 50.
Sea-anemones, weapons of, 315.
Sea-cucumber, 296; dumb-bells of, 297.
Sea-mat, 59.
Sea-mouse, bristles of, 264.
Sea-shore, pleasures of, 325.
Sea-urchin, spines of, 277; larva, 301; pedicellariæ, 282; pores, 290; skeleton, 302; suckers, 305.
Serpula, 271.
Shell of Cuttle, 39; Pearl-oyster, 42; Pinna, 42.
Shore-crab, 182.
Silkworm, foot of, 123; spinner of, 157.
Skeleton Wheel-bearer, 241.
Slug, ears of, 55; tongue of, 46.
Snail, eye of, 54.
Spicula of Alcyonium, 352; Chirodota, 299; Fish-scales, 24; Holothuria, 298; Sponges, 385; Synapta, 299.
Spiders, eyes of, 207; fangs of, 205; foot of, 217; habits of, 210; silk of, 211; spinner of, 213.
Spines of Heart-urchin, 292; Sea-urchin, 277.
Spinner of Silkworm, 157; Spider, 213.
Spiracles of Insects, 97, 106.
Sponges, spicula of, 386.
Stauridia, 340.
Sting of Bee, 125.
Stylonychia, 411.
Suckers of Sea-cucumber, 296; Sea-urchin, 288.
Sugar-louse, 77.
Swan-neck, 393.
Sword-bearer, 246.
Synapta, 299.
Tentacle of Cydippe, 309; Hydractinia, 339; Laomedea, 329; Scallop, 50; Thaumantias, 319.
Thaumantias, 319.
Tongue of Butterfly, 154; Fly, 151; Limpet, 46; Periwinkle, 46; Slug, 46; Trochus, 47.
Trachelocerca, 393.
Transformations of Barnacle, 195; Crab, 182; Galathea, 188; Medusa, 323; Polype, 324; Sea-urchin, 301; Tube-wheel, 256; Vorticella, 408.
Tripod Wheel-bearer, 248.
Trochus, tongue of, 47.
Tube-wheel, 251.
Turris, 321.
Urchin, Sea, 276.
Vacuoles, 381.
Vaginicola, 410.
Vorticella, 402.
Water-fleas, 175.
Weapons of Anemones, 355; Corynactis, 369; Madrepore, 364; Sea-worms, 262.
Weevil, 160; Scales of, 83.
Wheel-bearers, 223.
Wheels of Brachionus, 226; Chirodota, 298.
Whiptail, 238.
Wing of Bee, 73; Fly, 72, 84; Gnat, 74.
Wool, 13.
Worms, 258.
Zoea of Crab, 181.
Zoophytes, 325.

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