100 



flesh, or to be produced by the separation of the irregularly rounded 

 masses of which the head is composed. 



I come now to speak of the system of muscles, which I have been 

 able to define satisfactorily, to an extent that had not before been 

 done, though I am sure many more remain to be demonstrated. 

 The precise, vigorous, and most numerous motions of which the 

 more highly organized Rotifera are capable, presuppose the exist- 

 ence of a complex array of muscles ; and the specimen which I am 

 able to show, may prove to us how elaborately these are supplied ; 

 and, combined with the other organs, should excite our adoring 

 admiration of the infinite resources of Him, whose " eternal power 

 and Godhead" are manifested not less in this minute and even 

 invisible organism, than in the structure of an elephant or a whale. 



Across the body, nearly at equal distances, are seen to run six (or 

 seven ?) transverse muscles, inserted by dilated ends into the interior 

 separable skin on each side (I, 2). They are either attached through 

 their whole length to the inner surface of the integument, or else 

 they are arranged in pairs, inserted in the mesial line of the dorsum, 

 and running to each side ; for in a lateral view their ends are seen 

 still to touch the dorsal outline (D) ; but I do not think they extend 

 quite across the belly. Prof. Ehrenberg thinks them (in Hydatina, 

 &c.) to be vessels, but they closely resemble the longitudinal 

 muscles. If they are muscular bands, their use is doubtless to con- 

 tract the diameter of the body, which is often done powerfully, and 

 most strongly at the points where these are placed. 



A bent vessel (?) (i, 3), passes down each side. The transverse 

 muscles appear to pass through the substance of this, which divides 

 and again unites to embrace them ; but of this I would speak doubt- 

 fully. At the hindmost transverse band, it passes round, and being 

 bent up again, proceeds diagonally towards the skin, at the penulti- 

 mate transverse band. Its commencement I have not been able to 

 trace ; it may possibly be connected with the double pipe of the 

 head. Of its use, too, I am ignorant. 



The muscles of the gizzard (I). To the upper part of each side of 

 this organ is attached a stout muscle or tendinous cord (8, 8), which 

 proceeds downward through the whole body, and is inserted in the 

 skin near the foot-bulb. The action of these cords is powerful, 

 sometimes dragging down the gizzard far into the abdomen : the 

 action of either alone draws the top of the gizzard to one side. 



The muscles of the occipital sac. Three bands (6, 6, 6) are 

 attached near the bottom of this, which pass up on the two sides, and 



