170 FRAGMENTS OF WEED FRO:\I A POND, ETC. 



power of contracting in a spiral fashion whenever anything 

 happens to disturb them. In some species these stalks are 

 branched, so that a large number of these creatures are found on 

 a single stem, forming an exceedingly beautiful object under the 

 microscope. Sometimes, when watching these compound 

 Vorticella, their stalks will suddenly contract, and a large mass, 

 expanding over the whole field of view, will disappear, and then 

 as suddenly reappear in all their beauty. 



If we examine these creatures minutely, we shall find that the 

 mouths of the little cups are surrounded by cilia, which are in 

 constant motion, and that each cup possesses two apertures, 

 through one of which a current of water enters and from the 

 other passes out. Not unfrequently, one of these small cups will 

 break away from its stalk, and swim about in the water with 

 remarkable rapidity, as if rejoicing in its freedom. 



In common with many of the lower animals, these creatures 

 have three ways of multii)lying their race : one by the division of 

 their bodies, another by buds (after the fashion of plants), and 

 another by reproductive germs. 



There are, doubtless, other interesting objects on our frag- 

 ments of weed, if we had the time to examine them more closely, 

 and the space at my disposal would permit ; but as such is not 

 the case, I will conclude by stating that the few particulars I have 

 endeavoured to give are not intended to satisfy, but rather to 

 excite curiosity, and induce those readers who are able, to seek 

 further information on their own account. 



Erovvnian Movements. 



The President of the New York Microscopical Society 

 informed the members at a recent meeting that the specimen of 

 gamboge, rubbed up in water, which he had prepared Aug. 3rd, 

 1874, and which had until recently showed very active move- 

 ments, seemed at last to have ceased its activity, a leak having 

 developed in the enclosing cell, and evaporation having ensued in 

 consequence. He thought the subject of interest, as 14 years was 

 l)robably the longest period during which the phenomenon had 

 been under observation. 



