1^20 



MARVELS OF POND-LIFE. 



them to the animal series, but their general beha- 

 viour is vegetable ; and the ''Micrographic Dictionary" 

 is in favour of referring them to the Algce—tlvdt 

 great family of simple plants, of which the sea-weeds 

 are the most important representatives. 



When any of the monads swarm, there are sure 

 to be plenty of other creatures to eat them up, 

 and in this instance the predaceous animalcule, 

 ah^eady described, was not the only enemy the little 



green globes had to suffer from, as tAvo sorts of 

 rotifer were frequently met with. One of these was 

 a very handsome and singular creature, which in 

 some positions had the general contour of a cocka- 

 too, only that the legs were wanting, and the head 

 exhibited a monkey face. The "wheels" were re- 

 presented by ciliary tufts, and two bright red eyes 

 twinkled with a knowing look. From each shoulder 

 proceeded a long curved spine, and about two-thirds 



