WATER-DEARS AND ROTIFERS. 89 



after a variety of experiments it was proved that 

 the animals had not really been dead, and con- 

 sequently that there was no resurrection. So the 

 controversy passed into the realm of science, where 

 facts alone have any weight and causes and effects 

 are traced. As to desiccation and resuscitation, 

 the facts are as above stated ; and the cause or 

 " reason why " is found in other facts which have 

 been since discovered. These are, that the creatures 

 are furnished with a very tough and elastic skin, 

 and otherwise protected. In the case of the Water- 

 bears two skins, one over the other, are found ; and 

 in the Rotifers there is also a slimy secretion, which 

 hardens in drying, and forms an impervious coating ; 

 so when the drying commences they roll themselves 

 up, with as much moisture as they can contain, into 

 little round balls, cover themselves with this viscid 

 secretion, and also generally get a little vegetable 

 matter over themselves, and await their fate. There 

 is also another important factor in the case, which 

 explains why they will stand dry heat better and 

 up to a higher point than wet. Their bodies are 

 composed in great part of albuminate of soda or 

 soluble albumen ; and this substance when dried 



