CLASSIFICATION. 71 



nating in a ciliated cup_, thus forming an elegant little 

 branched Vorticella. It differed from the one I first men- 

 tioned, not only by being much more minute and more fas- 

 tigiate, the first being rather dichotomous and the terminat- 

 ing cells placed at different heights, but also as being less 

 lively, not having the habit of suddenly collapsing, but con- 

 tinuing in an unfolded state. " Vorticellce, in general, can 

 bend and turn and twist in all directions ; they can almost 

 cast a knot on their tender and delicate stems. Microscopic 

 shrubs composed of similar animals, hundreds of campanu- 

 late Hydr<2 terminating their extremities, while at their 

 highest enjoyment of full expansion in some favourable posi- 

 tion, will suddenly collapse on a momentary alarm, crouching 

 close down to its root in absolute quiescence. Then, as if 

 relieved from the apprehension of danger, they rise again to 

 display their beautiful proportions. '^ 



What struck me as remarkable in this " minim,'' was, 

 that it seemed indifferent as to its element, whether fresh or 

 salt water; for having kept fresh-water in a tumbler for 

 some weeks, I was surprised to find the Vorticellce as nume- 

 rous in it as in the sea-water. To all appearance they were 

 the same species, and yet had they been examined with a 

 microscope of higher power, a difference might have been 



