32 



VIEWS OF THE MICROSCOPIC WORLD. 



RAY-GLOBE ANIMALCULES. Another kind of rolling Infusoria, is delineated in 

 Fig. is. figure 18. They are called the Ray-Globe Animalcules, and 



form, by their union, a group resembling the clustering fruit 

 of the banana. Each animalcule resides in a cell, and the cells 

 of the cluster are imbedded in a jelly-like substance of a 

 spherical form, which rolls through the water like the revolv- 

 ing globe. The ray-globe animalcule is of a yellow color, is 

 provided with two organs of motion, but not with an eye ; and 

 is likewise furnished with a slender tail, by which it is con- 

 nected, either with the centre of the cluster, or with the bottom 

 of its own cell. This latter member possesses the curious property of extension and 

 contraction, and by its aid the animalcule can protrude itself beyond its cell, to a 

 distance equal to three times its natural length, and then at its pleasure withdraw 

 again into its apartment. 



Figure 19 is a magnified portion of a cluster, and 

 displays the manner in which the tails of the creatures 

 are connected with the common covering. The length 

 of a single animalcule of this kind, exclusive of its tail, is 

 one-seventeen hundredth of an inch / and the size of a 

 cluster varies from one-one hundred and ninetieth part of 

 an inch to one-two hundred and eightieth. 



THE BLOOD-LIKE ASTATIA. This animalcule belongs to a kind, which has 

 received the name of Astatia,* from the circumstance that they have no fixed 

 abode like the globe animalcules ; but are endowed with perfect freedom of mo- 

 tion. They have the power of changing their form at pleasure, are destitute of 

 an eye, and move from place to place by means of a tail, and a delicate, vibrating 

 cilium. These animated particles are sometimes produced in such vast numbers 

 as to dye the waters in which they live with a crimson hue. 



Fi ^ The blood-like Astatia is delineated in figure 20. Its 



body, when extended, is spindle-shaped, as there exhibited ; 

 at first, the animalcule is green, but afterwards assumes 

 blood-red color. Figure 2 1 shows an individual of the 

 ame species with the body contracted. The length of 

 this little creature is one- three hundred and eightieth of 

 an inch. 



Fig. 21. 



THE BLOOD-RED EYE ANIMALCULE. This animalcule belongs to the same 

 family as the Astatia, but differs from it in possessing a beautiful reel eye. It 

 varies in length from one-two hundred and fortieth to one-three hundredth of an 

 inch, and is of an oblong shape ; but is capable of changing its form at will. This 



* Greek, a, privative, without ; stasis, a station, hence Astatia. 



