Marvels of Pond-Life. 87 



microscopic life; but of this we do not know enough to 

 make a fair comparison, although our own dips into 

 them were tolerably lucky. 



Walking one day down a lane leading towards 

 Keigate, where the trees arched overhead, ferns grew 

 plentifully in the sandy banks, and the sunlight flitted 

 through the branches, and chequered the path, we came 

 to a shallow pond, or great puddle, which crossed the 

 way, and near the edge of the water the eye was struck 

 with patches of crimson -colour. On attempting to 

 take up a portion of one of these patches the whole 

 disappeared, although when the disturbance ceased 

 the rich colour again clothed the dingy mud. The 

 appearance was caused by thousands of little worms, 

 belonging to the genus Tubifex, not uncommon in 

 such situations, who thrust themselves out to enjoy the 

 light and air, and retreat the moment an alarm is 

 given. Probably both actions belong to the class 

 described in the last chapter, as "reflex;" but it would 

 be interesting to know whether creatures so humble 

 have any sense of fear. These worms will repay obser- 

 vation, but in these pages we eschew all their tribe — 

 unless the rotifers be assigned to them — and take our- 

 selves once more to our especial subjects. 



Knowing that farm-ponds are usually well stocked 

 with microscopic game, we made a dip into one more 

 especially assigned to ducks, and obtained wondrous 

 little for our pains. We were not, however, discou- 

 raged, but made an examination of the circumstances, 

 which determined a particular course of action. Our 

 piece of water was simply a dirty duck-pond, in which 



