172 MARVELS OF POND-IJFE, 



to be the case in the cohl months, it is well to 

 fill a large vial with some water out of the aquarium 

 or other large vessel, and watch what living specks 

 may be moving about therein. These are readily 

 examined with a pocket-lens, and with a little dex- 

 terity any promising creature can be fished out 

 with the dipping-tube. It is also advisable to shake 

 a mass of vegetation in a white basin, as the larger 

 infusoria, etc., may be thrown down; and indeed 

 this method (as recommended by Pritchard) is 

 always convenient. Even so small a quantity of 

 water as is contained in a glass cell, appropriated 

 to the continual examination of polyps or polyzoa, 

 should be frequently hunted over with a low power, 

 as in the course of days and weeks one race of 

 small animals will disappear, and another take their 

 place. 



Following these various methods in December, 

 we obtained many specimens; but the most inter- 

 esting was found by taking up small branches of 

 the Anacharis with a pair of forceps, and putting 

 tliem into a glass trough to see what inhabitants 

 they might possess. One of these trials was rewarded 

 by the appearance of a little puppy-shaped animal 

 very busy pawing about with eight imperfect legs, 

 but not making much progress with all his efforts. 

 It was evident that we had obtained one of the 

 Tardigrada^ (slow-steppers,) or Water-Bears, and a 



