124 DROPS OF WATER. 



for a new genus. Besides tins extraordinary 

 method of increase, buds have been perceived on 

 the sides of the bells, which gradually increase 

 in size, and form new individuals. By these 

 various means their numbers augment astonish- 

 ingly, and this increase may be watched, if a 

 stalk of duckweed or other substance to which 

 a few are attached, be put by itself in a small 

 vessel of water, and examined by the microscope 

 every day. I have often selected a small group, 

 and keeping it in a vessel alone, have observed 

 them increase to several hundreds in the course 

 of a short time. They fall from their stalks and 

 die, if deprived of air, for I have more than 

 once kept a number under a glass cover, for 

 twenty-four hours/ and found half lying dead in 



