Marvels of Pond-Life. 105 



escape her all-consuming maw. On one occasion I 

 noticed one of the loricated sort, more than half as 

 long as one of her tentacles, rapidly swallowed, and 

 passed downwards without attempting to escape. 

 Objects much too big for the gizzard are often gulped 

 down, and probably receive a preliminary softening and 

 maceration in the crop. Very often, when food is 

 plentiful, the creature is filled to the brim, but still 

 endeavours to continue her abundant meal. From the 

 presence of large quantities of food and the density of 

 the integuments, the gizzard cannot always be seen ; 

 but in favorable specimens its teeth may be observed 

 busily at work. 



At the base of the tentacles small masses of matter 

 may be discovered, which are probably nervous ganglia, 

 and other organs ; and Ehrenberg discovered small 

 vibrating bodies, supposed to be connected with the 

 function of respiration. A single egg, as shown in the 

 annexed drawing, is often found, and the ovarian is said 

 to develop but few at a time. Two red eyes are found 

 in young specimens, but in adults they either disappear 

 or are not conspicuous. The Stephanoceri are sociable 

 animals, and when one is found, others are probably 

 near at hand, Several may often be discovered on the 

 same branch of a small water-plant, of various dimen- 

 sions, and in different stages of growth. The full size 

 is about 1-36" in height, and from its magnitude care 

 is required not to crush it in the live-box. When 

 specimens are plentiful, some should be placed in that 

 convenient receptacle ; and others with the plant on 

 which they are growing, in a glass cell or trough, 



