VORTICELLID^. 445 



These invisible animalcules may be compared, in the great 

 organic ■world, to the minute capillaries in the microcosm 

 of the animal body ; receiving organic matter in its state 

 of minutest subdivision, and when in full career to escape 

 from the organic system, turning it back, by a new route, 

 towards the central and highest point of that system." 



Such, then, seem to be some of the purposes for which 

 are created the wonderful invisible myriads of infusorial 

 animalcules. In the words of Holy Writ : " All these 

 things live and remain for ever for all uses ; and they are 

 all obedient. All things are double one against another ; 

 and He hath made nothing imperfect. One thing estab- 

 lisheth the good of another ; and wdio shall be filled with 

 beholding His glory ? " 



VoRTiCELLiD^. — We now come to a family, which includes 

 some of the most beautiful of living infusorial animalcules, 

 and in which we meet with phenomena more curious than 

 any yet witnessed, and perhaps as wonderful as any that 

 will be presented to our notice, in the natural history of 

 the higher classes of animals. The family of Vorticellidce, 

 hell-animalcules, are characterised by the possession of a 

 fringe of rather long cilia, surrounding the anterior ex- 

 tremity, which can be exerted and drawn in at the pleasure 

 of the creatures. Some are furnished with a horny case 

 for the protection of their delicate bedies, "whilst others 

 are quite naked. 



The genus Vorticella, from which the name given to 

 the family is derived, consists of little creatures placed at 

 the top of a long flexible stalk, the other extremity of 

 which is attached to some object, such as the stem or leaves 

 'of an aquatic plant. This stem, slender as it is, is never- 

 theless a hollow tube, through the entire length of which 

 runs a muscular thread of still more minute diameter. 

 When in activity, and secure from danger, the little VoV' 

 ticella stretches its stalk to the utmost, whilst its fringe of 

 cilia is constantly drawing to its mouth any luckless 

 animalcule that may come within the influence of the 

 vortex it creates ; but at the least alarm the cilia vanish, 

 and the stalk, with the rapidity of lightning, draws itself 

 up into a little spiral coil. But the Vorticella is not 

 wholly condemned to pass a sort of vegetable existence, 



