70 HISTORY OF BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 



ciliated band round the mouth is somewhat spiral, giving 

 additional elegance to its appearance ; and it may be useful 

 as well as elegant, acting probably as a purse-string; and 

 woe to the little monads on whom that devouring purse 

 closes, — there is no escape. The Sientors are of different 

 colours, some red, others green or blue, and some of them 

 have the body as well as the mouth garnished with cilia, 

 doubtless to increase their powers of locomotion. 



The Vorticella that next came under my notice was a very 

 minute, but I am persuaded, a very common one, though 

 from its diminutive size verv seldom observed. In the 

 month of October 1 placed a tumbler of sea-water, in which 

 there were some Xudibranchs, in a dark closet, not by way 

 of punishment as naughty children, but because, being in 

 the habit of living under stones, they cannot long bear the 

 full light of day. Having made the observations I wished 

 on the Nudibranchs, I returned them to the deep, and set 

 the tumbler with the water in it on the mantel- piece. After 

 some time I observed little dim specks on the inside of the 

 glass, and applying to them a powerful lens, to my surprise 

 I found that these almost invisible dots were replete with 

 life and beauty. From the centre from twelve to twenty 

 crystalline filaments arose with a srraceful bend, each termi- 



