Marvels of Pond-Life. 



53 



water were specimens of that singular Rotifer, tlie 

 Salpina, about 1 — loO" long, and furnished with a 

 lorica, or carapace, resembling a three-sided glass 

 box, closed below, and slightly open along the 

 back. At the top of this box were four, and at the 

 bottom three, points or horns, and the creature had 

 one eye and a forked tail. Keeping liim company 

 was another little Rotifer, named after its appearance, 

 Monocerca rattus, the ^One-tailed Rat/ Tliis little 

 animal had green matter in its stomach, which was in 

 constant commotion. I ought to have observed that 

 the Salpina repeatedly thrust out its gizzard, and used 

 it as an external mouth. In the annexed sketch the 

 Salpina is seen in a position that displays the dorsal 

 opening of the carapace.. Its three-cornered shape is 

 only shown by a side view. 



Here we close a brief account of what !March winds 

 brought in their train. The next chai)ter will show the 

 good fortune that attended April showers. 



Salpina rcdunca. 



