44 



VIEWS OF THE MICROSCOPIC WORLD. 



Fig. 53. 



Fig. 55. 



Fig. 54. 



Fig. 56. 



dred and twentieth of an inch, 

 and are found abundantly in 

 stagnant water, upon decayed 

 sticks, stones, and leaves ; on the 

 surface of which they cluster in 

 countless myriads. The appear- 

 ance they then present is similar 

 to that shown in figure 54, which 

 represents a twig encased in a 

 mass of green jelly, consisting 

 of thousands of animalcules of 

 this kind. The twig was taken 

 from a lake by Dr. Mantell, and 

 was part of a branch three feet 

 long, that had fallen into the 

 water and was entirely cover- 

 ed with the congregated mul- 

 titudes of these Infusoria. The 



Fig. 57. 



group just described displays the animalcule when extended 

 to its full length ; but in swimming it contracts into the shape 

 of a cylindrical cup with a spiral margin, as exhibited in figure 

 55. The Blue stentor is shown in figures 56 and 57. 

 In the first it is seen elongated, as it appears when attached 

 to some object, and in the latter under the shape it assumes 

 when swimming. Its voracity is plainly evinced by the num- 

 ber of animalcules within the enclosure of its funnel-shaped 

 mouth, below which the rows of stomach-cells are apparent, 

 extending to b. This species has a crest (c, c,) extending along 

 its body. The length of the creature is one-four hundred and 

 eightieth of an inch. 



