60 Marvels of Pond-Life. 



like a clumsy little grub. After a few awkward 

 wriggles the new-born baby became more quiet^ and on 

 looking at it again at the expiration of seventeen hours, 

 it had developed into the shape of a miniature plum- 

 pudding, with five or six tiny lobes expanding their 

 tufts of slender hair. Unfortunately its further pro- 

 ceedings were not seen, or it would have been 

 interesting to note the growth of the foot, and the 

 formation of the gelatinous tube, which is probably 

 thrown off in rings. 



To view the details of the structure of a Floscule, it 

 must be placed in a live-box or compressorium, and if 

 specimens are scarce, they should not be allowed to 

 remain in the limited quantity of water those contriv- 

 ances hold, after the observations are concluded, but 

 should be carefully removed, and placed in a little vial, 

 such as homoeopathists use for their medicine. By 

 such means an individual may be kept alive for many 

 days. It is also interesting to place a little branch 

 of the plant occupied by Floscules or similar creatures, 

 in a glass trough, where they may be made quite at 

 home, and their proceedings agreeably watched by a 

 one-inch or two-thirds power. These troughs,^ which 

 can be obtained of the optician, should be of plate 

 glass, about three inches long, nearly the same height, 

 and about half an inch wide. If narrower, or much 

 taller, they will not stand, which is a great incon- 



* The shallow cells with thin sliding covers devised hy Llr. Curteis 

 (of Baker's), are still more convenient when no pressure is required, 

 and the objects are small. When not under the microscope they can 

 be kept full of water by immersion in a tumbler. 



