68 HISTOEY OF BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 



were effected by a beautiful peculiarity of organization, — 

 that the stem and the branches, finer than the thread of a 

 spider's web, were not straight, but spiral, like the springs 

 formed of spiral wires ; that it could coil and uncoil these 

 elastic springs at pleasure; that it rose to its full dimen- 

 sions when seeking its food ; and that when the rough wave 

 conveying some rougher substance was passing over it, I 

 conjectured that it might be consulting its safety by shrink- 

 ing almost into nothing, as brave soldiers show their wis- 

 dom by falling flat on the battle-field when cannon-balls 

 and grape-shot are passing over them, that when the enemy 

 have wasted their strength, they may rise and rush upon 

 them. 



We have already mentioned that the lips of the little 

 cups which adorn the Vorticella are furnished with cilia, 

 which by a rapid rotatory motion cause currents full of ani- 

 malcules to enter the cup, which proves to them the cup of 

 death. Alas ! for these little entities ! but their day is 

 over ; they enjoyed life while it lasted ; they have answered 

 the ends of their being; their sufi'erings are momentary. 

 Alas ! there is a more dreadful gidf which rational crea- 

 tures are commanded to shun. The currents around it 

 have a most absorbing influence, and it never returns what 



