Marvels of Pond-Life. 137 



A glance with the pocket-lens showed all was right, and 

 the cover was very gently put on, but it had scarcely 

 touched the creature when it became crumpled up and 

 in confusion. On one or two former occasions I had 

 been unfortunate enough to give my captives a squeeze 

 too much, with the usual result of a rupture of their 

 integuments and an escape of globules and fluids from 

 the regions within. Now, however, there was no such 

 rupture and no such escape, but instead of a smooth, 

 comely surface, my Trachelius had lost all title to his 

 specific designation, ovum, for instead of bearing any 

 resemblance to an egg, it was more like an Irishman's 

 hat after having a bit of a " shindy " at Donny brook 

 Fair. 



I was greatly puzzled with this aspect of things, and 

 still more so when my deranged specimen twirled and 

 bumped about with considerable velocity, and in all 

 directions. Presently a decided constriction appeared 

 about half-way below the mouth and proboscis, and in 

 transverse direction. The ciliary motion became very 

 violent in the lower half just below the constriction, 

 while the proboscis worked hard to make its half go 

 another way. For some minutes there was a tug of war, 

 and at length away went proboscis with his portion, 

 still much crumpled by the fight, and left the other 

 bit to roam at will, gradually smooth his puckers, 

 and assume the appearance of a respectable well-to-do 

 animalcule. 



Three hours after the " fission " the proboscis half 

 was not unlike the former self of the late " entire/' but 

 with diminished body and larger neck ; while the re- 



