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WHAT BECAME OF THE TADPOLES? 



213 



proved to contain a tadpole. The plant placed in the aquarium 

 for the benefit of the tadpoles was devouring them. 



Exa- 

 mination 

 of the bal- 

 loons show- 

 ed that their 

 orifices were 

 large enough 

 to admit 

 the baby 

 tadpoles. 

 As they en- 

 ered a trap- 

 door that 

 had stood 

 ajar swung 

 further back 

 to admit 

 them. But 

 once inside, 

 the tadpole 

 was a prison- 

 er without 

 chance of 

 release . 

 Even- move 

 made it only 

 served to 

 close the 

 door more 

 t i g h t 1 y . 

 There the 

 tiny crea- 

 tures re- The Common Bladderwort 

 mained until From " Life of Inland Waters" 

 lack of air or of food caused their death. 



A black tadpole within a nearly transparent balloon had caused 

 the appendage itself to appear black. As the tadpole decomposed, 

 its tissues were absorbed by the walls of the balloon to serve as 



