WHEEL-BE AKEKS . 



2S5 



mastax. These muscles conceal or disguise the fonn 

 and action of the parts during life, but the introduction 

 of a drop of solution of potash into the water instantly 

 dissolves away the fleshy parts, leaving the solid or- 

 gans, or tliose composed of chitine, beautifully clear, 



SWOUD-BEAREH. 



and fit for observation. Without this aid it would 

 be impossible to resolve the structure of these minute 

 animals. 



The little Sword-bearer, like the BracMonus^ carries 

 its eggs attached to the hinder part of its body, for 

 some time after they are discharged ; the minute green 

 oval bodies that you see stickino; to the side of this 

 specimen, are not, however, eggs, but parasitic animal- 

 cules {Colacium vesiculosuw)^ which very frequently 

 infest this species, adhering to various points of the 

 shell, and even to the sword-fins. 



