MINOR MUD AND WATER FOLK. 123 



on the strain to observe them. And when you 

 mix them with a number of the genus Cyclops 

 there is perpetual commotion. I once had a 

 jelly-glass of water full of such creatures, and 

 in the time I kept them I nearly obtained one or 

 two wrinkles in the middle of my forehead. Any 

 one who wishes to cultivate wrinkles will please 

 take notice that squinting at Water-fleas is the 

 surest and quickest way I have yet discovered. 

 But it is interesting work to watch the entomos- 

 tracans through the glass. The lady Cyclops will 

 shoot by bearing two egg-masses nicely balanced 

 on either side, and Cyprls with all his brethren 

 will skim around over the floor of the jelly-glass 

 looking at a glance like a lot of little spiders in 

 for a swim. Multitudes of the fossil shells of 

 the Cy prides are said to be found in the Wealden 

 rocks of England, in the limestone of the carbo- 

 niferous series, etc. Such little creatures make 

 more marks on the earth sometimes than men do, 

 a fact that is sufficiently humbling to human 

 pride. 



Another quite lively and brilliant little crea- 

 ture that I have found here in March is a "water- 

 mite," one of the Hydrachnidce. Bright red is 

 this mite, so much so that it looks almost like an 

 animated speck of blood as it goes through the 

 water. Its color forms a strange contrast to the 

 usual tints of water - creatures, which are com- 

 monly dark, or yellowish white. 



