48 DROPS OF WATER. 



a very remarkable construction, and peculiarly 

 interesting, proving how nearly connected are the 

 two great classes of animals and vegetables. This 

 little plant-like substance is seen at low water, 

 attached to stones, and is in the form of a hair 

 pencil, from half an inch to an inch in length, 

 each thread being finer than a hair, and slightly 

 branched, rounded and compressed : they contain 

 a number of small yellowish bodies, which are 

 first round, then oblong, afterwards more pointed 

 at one end, which becomes transparent. They are 

 packed very closely, but when the cell bursts, 

 they move about in the water in the most amus- 

 ing manner, and keep up a voluntary, incessant 

 motion for a considerable time. They at last 

 fall down in immense numbers on the stones, and 



