Marvels of Pond-Life. 89 



and whose little red eyes contrasted vividly with the 

 prevailing emerald hue. 



One of the higher infusoria, whose species I could 

 not identify, was devouring them like a porpoise 

 among sprats. It did not, however, exhibit any sense 

 in its hungry career ; it moved about in all directions, 

 gulping down what came in its way, but often per- 

 mitting the escape of the little green things that were 

 almost in its mouth. The little globes rolled and 



"720 

 Cryptomouad. 



whirled about without the faintest indication of a 

 purpose, and without exhibiting any instrument with 

 which their locomotion was effected. To find out how 

 this was done, a higher power was used, and from their 

 extreme minuteness an amplification of seven hundred 

 and twenty linear was conveniently employed, although 

 a lower one (three or four hundred) disclosed the secret 

 by showing that a little whip was flourished about 

 through the neck, which the lower power revealed. 

 "When highly magnified, each little globe was seen to 

 consist of an outer case of a reddish orange colour, 



