76 DROPS OF WATER. 



drop to pieces very easily, and then the individuals 

 creep about. The last genus of this division is 

 Meridian, the separate individuals of which are 

 wedge-shaped, but, unlike the Bacittaria cimeata 

 mentioned above, they are arranged with all the 

 small ends placed together, so that the band 

 is not straight, but forms a spiral, if many are 

 linked together; if there are but few, then a 

 circle, or part of a circle, may be formed : M. 

 vernale is the species usually seen. How mar- 

 vellous are all these variations, when we consider 

 the minute size of the objects ! 



The next section of the Bacittaria family is 

 called Echinellea, and the genera are distin- 

 guished from those of the other divisions, by 

 being attached at one extremity to weeds, &c. 



