FLOSCULARIA. 143 



and peculiar, having its body clothed with 

 hairs, the form also resembling in some degree 

 that of a caterpillar : it is generally seen creep- 

 ing on the stalks of duckweed, and occasionally 

 swimming with considerable ease. C. larus is the 

 most plentiful species, and particularly abundant 

 in muddy water. 



The genus Floscularia, though consisting of 

 species always attached to water-plants, and there- 

 fore less lively than most of the Rotatoria, is very 

 beautiful, and highly interesting. The indivi- 

 duals each dwell in a transparent case, which is 

 affixed to plants, and the body is attached by a 

 slender foot to the base, having the power of ex- 

 panding or contracting itself at pleasure. When 

 contracted, it is shorter than the cell, but, if 



