174 DROPS OF WATER. 



is no eye. The head is formed of a two- wheeled 

 organ, and a ciliated part divided into three lobes ; 

 with these the creature forms a strong current 

 in the water, drawing towards it many small 

 objects floating past, and occasionally selecting 

 one, which then enters the mouth, where the jaws 

 are ready to receive it. I have frequently seen 

 it swallow small Polygastrica, one after the other, 

 very rapidly. The tail, which is thick and very 

 powerful, projects from the lorica, between the 

 two spines at the base : it grasps a stalk with 

 this forked tail, and then, raising the body, ex- 

 tends its wheels, and feeds with avidity. It occa- 

 sionally jerks the body backwards and forwards 

 with great force, still holding by the tail, as if it 

 were greatly excited, showing the strength of its 



