15-i MARVELS OF POND-LIFE. 



from the fission of one individual Avithout a cor- 

 responding division of the abode. 



For a few weeks I continually met with groups 

 liviuii: iis I have described, in what may be called 

 amorplious cells, Avhich were often so nearly like 

 tlie surrounding water in refracting power, as to be 

 discerned with some difficulty. No trace could be 

 seen of divisions into separate cells, but they all 

 appeared to live happily together in one room, and 

 if one went up all went up, and if one went down 

 all went down, as if their proceedings were regulated 

 bv a communitv of sensation or will. 



Another little curiosity was a transparent cup 

 upon a slender stem, Avhich stood upright like a 

 wine-glass, and supported on its mouth a transparent 

 globe. By removing a leaf which prevented the 

 stalk being traced to its termination, it was found 

 to be a Yorticella, and after two hours the globe 

 was partially drawn in, and reduced in size. Why 

 the ci-eature was engaged in blowing this bubble 

 I do not know, but it may possibly have been 

 thinking of encysting itself, and was trying the 

 qualitv of the transparent mucus it had produced. 



