196 THE NATURALIST. 



which they should hold in the animal kingdom, — some considering them 

 allied to the Crustacea, and others to the Annelids, or worms, — but, 

 leaving out of sight the question of classification, all are agreed that the 

 most important character, and that by which they are most readily known, 

 is the possession of a peculiar masticatory apparatus. This, which differs 

 somewhat in form and complexity, is called by some authors a gizzard, 

 but Mr. Gosse states that he has reason for believing it to be a true mouth. 

 They also differ, among themselves, in the fact that certain genera — as 

 Floscularia, Stephanoceros, (Ecistes, Melicerta, and others — attach them- 

 selves to plants or other objects in the water, whilst others, and by 

 far the greater number, are constantly roving about in search of prey ; 

 and it is not too much to add that, in the circle of minute life in which 

 they move, they are as voracious as any of the wild animals which haunt 

 the jungles of Africa. It must not be supposed, however, that the fixed 

 si3ecies are less predaceous. If possible, they are more so, as I can 

 myself testify. They are the very tyrants of their watery home. Often, 

 when inspecting a Stei^hanoceros, have I seen lively, rollicking Euglenae, 

 one after another, entangle themselves in its meshes, and once within the 

 crown — once within the mouth-funnel of a Floscule, — there is no 

 possibility of escape, unless by accident. I have observed as many as a 

 dozen small bodies in such a position at one time : when something has 

 occurred to drive the creature into its case all have escaped. It is com- 

 mon to see their capacious stomachs filled with greenish matter, which is 

 nothing more than the half-digested forms of Euglenfe, — sometimes there 

 are whole ones which have to undergo the process of mastication, — yet 

 they continue to take whatever comes in their way. 



Some species of Floscularia may commonly be found at this season of 

 the year upon the leaves of Myriophylhwi, Lernna, and other water plants ; 

 and where they do exist they are usually abundant. Those who possess 

 aquaria, I think, will have no difficulty in finding F. campanulata, — pro- 

 bably F. ornata, and others — if there has been no disturbance of the plants 

 for several months. The first mentioned species has proved to be extremely 

 common in this neighbourhood. I find it in my aquarium usually upon 

 Conferva. It may not be amiss here to state that if an aquarium is kept 

 for the purpose of supplying the possessor of a microscope with Kotifera, 

 and Infusoria generally, it must not be disturbed oftener than is absolutely 

 necessary. To keep it as a fine parlour ornament is a different thing ; it 

 must in that case be attended to ; the sides — or at least the front — must 



