38 MARVELS OF POND-LIFE. 



hammers may be obtained by rubbing the knuckles 

 of both liands together, but the motion is more com- 

 plicated, and the rami play their part in the tri- 

 turition of the food. Mr. Gosse states that when an 

 objectionable morsel has got as far as this mouth- 

 gizzard, '4t is thrown back by a peculiar scoop-like 

 action of the unci^ very curious to witness." The 

 •appended diagram will help the reader to com- 

 prehend this description, but no opportunity should 



Gizzard of Notomata. 



be lost for viewing this remarkable organ busy at 

 work in the living animals. 



The respiration of the Kotifers is supposed to be 

 eftected by the passage of water through vessels 

 running round theui, and called the ^'water vascular 

 system," and in addition to their eyes, wdiich often 

 disappear in adult specimens, the organ we described 

 as standing out like a pig-tail, as our acquaintance 

 crawled along, is thought to act as an antenna^ 



