ROTIFER. 167 



found both in sea- water and in infusions, as well 

 as in water which abounds in plants ; and they 

 have been observed in the cells of Sphagnum 

 obtusifolium, which is a kind of moss, with 

 whitish leaves, growing in bogs and swampy 

 places. Roeper says, that the cells have openings 

 into the water, so that the animalcule may creep 

 in, but he also relates that he has found them 

 in the cells of parts of the plant not exposed to 

 the water. If the cells of the Sphagnum are 

 open at times, I can easily imagine that the 

 Rotifer will creep in, for my own observation 

 nearly proves that they will occupy any small 

 cavity, where they perhaps may feel that they 

 may feed in safety. I founded my opinion upon 

 the following facts, which I observed last spring 



