110 DROPS OF WATEIl. 



at last there is formed quite a little spike, or 

 shrub, of these delicate loricas, and the elegant 

 inhabitant. It is so extremely transparent that 

 it requires very nice adjustment of both in- 

 strument and light, to see it well; it is 

 lost sight of by the smallest alteration of the 

 focus, but, when fully seen, is an exquisite 

 object. It is not attached, but moves slowly in 

 the water, turning gently round. I have occa- 

 sionally met with bog-water abounding in this 

 delicate creature : the groups differ in size, some 

 having only two or three collected together, 

 others formed of a dozen, and then nothing 

 can exceed the beauty of this compound mass. 

 It is found principally in the spring. 



The family Amcebaa consists of one genus, 



