How to obtain it. 207- 



prey upon these crustaceans, that few of them practically survive. 

 These figures, however, have their lesson ; they teach us of the 

 enormous possibilities that exist, with regard to the increase of 

 these minute creatures, where by so called artificial means they 

 can be protected from their enemies, and allowed to multiply 

 enormously. The food of Cyclops is produced by decaying 

 vegetable matter, and minute spores. On occasion it also eats 

 infusoria, or becomes a cannibal when a favourable opportunity 

 occurs. It possesses but one eye, and projects itself through the 

 water by means of its oar-like feet, which are ten in number. 



The third and last crustaceans of the sub-class Entomostraca 

 which it is necessary to mention are the Cypridce. They are 

 interesting little creatures, and are abundant in some waters. 



Cypris tristriata is the commonest, although there are said 

 to be fifteen recorded species in this country. They are small 

 free swimming crustaceans, and are enclosed in a bivalve shell- 

 like carapace. The mode of progression is 

 by opening their valves slightly, and putting 

 out a series of hair-like processes or cilia, 

 which they move rapidly and constantly, but 

 on the slightest alarm withdraw them and 

 sink to the bottom. In a closely allied 

 genus called Candona we find the swimming Cy pri s fr*Jj, enlarged. 

 apparatus absent, and the species, some five 

 in number, are not found swimming about, but crawling on the 

 bottom, or on the plants growing in the water they inhabit. The 

 food of the Cypris consists of both animal and vegetable matter, 

 and they are excellent scavengers. I have seen ponds which they 

 inhabit dry up in summer, but the little creatures, nothing daunted, 

 bury themselves in the mud, and remain there until rain falls, and 

 the pool fills up again. Should the mud be thoroughly dried by 

 the sun they perish, but their eggs retain life even under such 

 trying circumstances, and will hatch and produce a fresh crop in 

 a few days, when placed in the water. 



As we work out the life histories and developments of some 

 of these interesting little creatures, we are forcibly reminded of 

 the language of the Psalmist, " O Lord, how manifold are Thy 

 works ! in wisdom hast Thou made them all : the earth is full of 





