64 Marvels of Pond-Life. 



tion/^^ and while the learned decide all the intricate 

 questions of its zoological rank, the ordinary observer 

 will be pleased to watch its singular aspect and lively 

 motions. Its size, according to the ' Micrographic 

 Dictionary/ varies from 1-710'' to 1-220'', and while 

 its general proceeding may be watched with an inch or 

 two-thirds object glass, and the second eye-piece, a 

 power of five hundred linear (obtained by a quarter or 

 a fifth) is required to make out the details of its struc- 

 ture. If placed in a live-box with threads of conferva, 

 and a little decayed vegetation, it may be observed to 

 group about among them, and shake them like a dog. 



We have said that water-fleas were among the in- 

 habitants of a bottle filled at the pond, and as they go 

 the way of all flesh, it is common to find some odd- 

 looking animalcules ready to devour their mortal 

 remains. These are creatures shaped like beer-barrels, 

 upon short legs, and which swim with a tubby rolling 

 gait. Looking at one of these little tubs lengthwise, a 

 number of lines are seen, as though the edge of each 

 stave projected a little above the general level, and 

 transverse markings are also apparent, which may be 

 compared to hoops. This is the Coleps hirtus, which 

 diff'ers from the usual type of Infusoria, by being sym- 

 metrical, that is, divisible into two equal and similar 

 halves. The dimensions of this species vary from 

 1-570 to 1-430, and its colour varies from white to 



* See a valuable paper by Mr. Gosse, " History of the Hairy-backed 

 Animalcules," ' Intellectual Observer,' vol. v, p. 387, in which the 

 known species are described and reasons given for following Vogt and 

 ranging them with the Turbellarian worms. 



