ROTIFER. ' 169 



leave the snug retreat in which they had fixed 

 themselves, even though I watched many ex- 

 amples, I still somewhat doubt, especially as 

 there were no specimens of R. vulgaris swimming 

 about. These specimens might prove to be 

 species of Philodina, though I think those ani- 

 malcules, as well as the Rotifer, have never been 

 observed to form cases. 



I have mentioned the tenacity of life in this 

 animalcule, in the Introduction, and would advise 

 the experiment to be tried by all interested in the 

 truth. An instance of revivification of an equally 

 small creature may be mentioned. The disease 

 in corn, called ear-cockle, or blight, is caused by 

 a very minute eel-like animal, which fills the seed, 

 and remains dormant for some years, until the 



d 



