OF ANIMALCULES. 



43 



34. VoLVOx uva. The grape Volvox, — This animal- 

 cule appears in a cluster^ arranged in various forms, 

 resembling bunches of grapes, from which its name is 

 derived. They are sometimes of a transparent green 

 colour, at others perfectly colourless, like clusters of 

 balls of glass, roving about near the surface of the water ; 

 indeed, so pellucid are they, that when in company 

 with any darker animalcules they may be easily over- 

 looked. These creatures afford a curious example of 

 the diversity of form in the animated world : so dif- 

 ferent are they from any living thing on a larger scale, 

 that the mind involuntarily questions the vitality of 

 these moving clusters ; the more especially as no external 

 members have as yet been discovered : no scrutinizing 

 observer, however, who will devote a few minutes in 

 following their motions, will, I am convinced, doubt of 

 their animated existence, while he will derive consi- 

 derable pleasure in watching them through a series of 

 the most diverting gambols, surpassing by far any of 

 the most playful domestic animals. 



The groups vary in form as much as different clusters 

 of grapes, and consist of from four to sixty globules 

 each, while occasionally a single one may be observed 

 separated : these, when of a green colour, resemble 

 the Gonium pectorale ; indeed, in clusters, they do not 

 differ much from the latter, except in their symme- 

 trical arrangement. 



The magnifying power necessary for shewing these 

 animalcules should be from 100 to 250 times (linear). 



