THE STEPHANOCEROS. 63 



XII. 



THE STEPHANOCEROS, OR CROWNED 

 ANIMALCULE. 



Plates IX, X, XL 



This is an exceedingly interesting animalcule, from 

 one-half to one-third of a line in length, and is gene- 

 rally found attached to the stem, and under surface of 

 the leaves, of the Water-lily, and other aquatic plants*. 



* Having seen the figures of the Stephanoceros in the splendid work 

 of M. Ehrenberg, I was very desirous of obtaining living specimens for 

 examination, not being then aware that this animalcule had already been 

 collected in England by Mr. Dalrymple. 



Mr. Hamlin Lee, at my request, undertook to search for it in the 

 pools and streams on Clapham Common, and, after several weeks' diligent 

 examination of the aquatic plants in various localities, he obtained, in 

 October, 1842, several individuals on the leaves of the Nxjmphea alba, 

 growing in the lake behind Grove -House— a most prolific locality for all 

 kinds of fresh-water Infusoria. It has since been found in other ponds, 

 and particularly in that called the Black Sea, on Wandsworth Common, 

 near the railway station. It is comparatively rare, and the past summer 

 has been remarkably unfavourable for its development, but few exam- 

 ples having been observed even in its favourite haunts. While living at 

 Clapham Common, we were always able to keep a stock of the Stepha- 

 noceros in glass jars with water containing aquatic plants; but at my 



