172 THE MICROSCOPE. 



that others possess. They prove that the minuteness of the animals of 

 this class does not prevent them from having an organisation most 

 elaborate and complex; and therefore it justifies the belief that the 

 Rotifera occupy a place in the scale of animal life much higher than 

 that which has been commonly assigned to them." 



Of the manners of the species, this careful observer states, that, in 

 a phial, it frequently clings to the sides of the glass, and appears sluggish ; 

 but when put into a live-box it is active, especially if there be any con- 

 fervee, or leaves of chara, or roots of lemna, in the water. Among these 

 it crawls about nimbly and impatiently, like a caterpillar, pushing itself 

 in every direction, by means of its two-toed foot, and by the elongation 

 and contraction of its body, but without any definite course. 



It commonly keeps its ear-like lobes concealed while crawling ; but 

 will often suddenly protrude them, and in the same instant shoot off 

 through the water with considerable rapidity, and with a smooth, gliding 

 motion, partially revolving on the longitudinal axis as it proceeds. 



Like most of the class, this Notommata is predatory. Mr. Gosse 

 once saw one eagerly nibbling at the contracted body of a sluggish 

 Rotifera vulgaris ; the mouth was drawn obliquely forward, and the 

 jaws were protruded to the food, so as to touch it. It did not appear, 

 however, to do the rotifer much damage. It seemed chiefly to feed on 

 monads. 



FLOSCULARIDJS. 



The /Slephanoceros, or Crowned Animalcule. This beautiful little 

 creature is about the 36th of an inch in length. It is enclosed in 

 a transparent cylindrical flexible case, over which it protrudes five 

 long arms in a graceful manner, which, touching at their points, give 

 the form from which it derives its name. These arms are furnished 

 with several rows of short cilia, and retain the prey brought within their 

 grasp until it is swallowed. The case is attached to the animal on the 

 part we may term the shoulders ; so that when it shrinks down in its 

 transparent home, the case is drawn inwards. Tp the bottom of its home 

 it is fastened by an elongation of the body; and this part, as well as the 

 body, contracts instantly on the approach of danger, the arms coming 

 close together and into the sheath. Its mouth differs a little from the 

 common wheel-animalcule, as it has two distinct sets of teeth, with 

 which it tears and crushes its food. The eggs of the Stephanoceros, 

 after leaving the animal's body, remain in the crystal-like shell until 

 hatched, when they escape from the lower part. A cluster of eggs may 

 be generally seen in the ovisac. Dr. Mantell, from close observation, 



