THE MICROSCOPE. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
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ConFuict Betrwezn a Rorirer anp Inrusortan.—R. P. Grace 
describes in Science Gossip an interesting encounter between a 
rotifer (Brachionus rubens) and an infusorian, which he was so 
fortunate as to witness. The infusorian began the attack by turning 
slowly and gently around the rotifer’s foot for some time, and then 
more rapidly. This appeared to cement the rotifer’s foot to the 
glass. The rotifer lashed about with great vigor in his efforts to 
escape, but was unable to get away. The enemy was repulsed many 
times, but returned to the attack, until about half an hour the 
rotifer became exhausted. The infusorian then attempted to enter 
the lorica, but being much larger than the opening it. resorted to the 
following device to accomplish its purpose: The front part of the 
infusorian was drawn out into a mere ribband, while the contents of 
the animal were pressed backward, thus forming a globe. The 
ribband was then inserted through the lorica and when in, the 
contents of the globular portion flowed into the ribband, leaving a 
thin projection behind. Once within its host, the infusorian assumed 
a globular form and rotated itself. The rotifer’s intestines first 
disappeared, the brain and eye last. The rotifer’s cilia moved rap- 
idly for quite half an hour after the entrance of the enemy. Having 
devoured its host the infusorian divided into two or four new 
animals, which were exactly like the parent, and swam swiftly away 
to seek fresh victims. 
Tue Microscoric Farrynanp.—“I gaze into that wonderful 
world which lies in a drop of water, crossed by some atoms of 
green weed; to see transparent living mechanism at work, and to 
gain some idea of its modes of action; to watch a tiny speck that 
can sail through the prick of a needle’s point; to see its crystal 
armour flashing with ever-varying tint, its head glorious with the 
halo of its quivering cilia; to see it gliding through the emerald 
stems, hunting for its food, snatching at its prey, fleeing from its 
enemy, chasing its mate (the fiercest of our passions blazing in an 
invisible speck); to see it whirling in a mad dance to the sound of 
its own music, the music of its happiness, the exquisite happiness of 
living—can any one, who has once enjoyed this sight, ever turn from 
it to mere books and drawings, without the sense that he has left all 
fairyland behind him?”’—Dr. C. T. Hudson, President’s Address, 
R. M.S. 
