42 VIGNETTES FROM INVISIBLE LIFE. 



is somewhat like that of the ostrich hiding its head in 

 the sand while its body is uncovered and visible. At 

 any rate, it has managed tolive and thrive, though not 

 so abundant as some of its better-defended relatives. 



Not much has been said as to the beauty of 

 this creature : in words it is difficult to describe 

 this striking feature. Imagine if you will, a 

 lovely flower-like animal within a fine crystalline 

 goblet ; it is folded up for the moment, but its life 

 is too short for long repose, and soon it proceeds to 

 resume its normal state. The petals open, expand, 

 and the finely spun glass-like seta>, finer than the 

 finest hair you ever saw, are thrown forth in flowing 

 flossy masses, glistening in the light with opaline 

 tints, and, spreading out in all directions beyond 

 our utmost gaze, all in wavy lines around the body 

 of its possessor. Such is the beautiful Floscule. 



But the crown of all the Floscularia, the one 

 that stands alone in majesty of form, is the Stepha- 

 noceros, a sketch of which we print. We have no 

 varieties here, at least none sufficient to constitute 

 another species ; and this fact harmonizes well with 

 its unique character and position as the " head of 

 the family " of the Floscularia. 



